Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3

Updated 8/24/25, 8:00 am – Good morning, all, the updated acreage here reflects information recieved from an infrared flight flown last night, which was not yet available at our time of posting this morning. Personnel numbers and containment percentages remain the same.

Derby Fire quick facts:
August 24, 2025
Total acreage: 5,248 acres
0% containment
525 personnel/resources
#DerbyFire#FireYear2025

Morning sunlight rises over the tents at the Derby Fire Incident Command Post near Eagle, CO. Mobile incident command posts often use yurts or tents as workspace for the units involved in managing incidents. Photo by Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3.

Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1

Incident Commander Brent Olson

Location:  11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado
Start Date: 08/02/2025
Cause: Lightning
Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres
Containment: Lee Fire: 86% |  Elk Fire: 100%
287 Total Personnel;   5 Helicopters;   12 Engines;   3 Hand Crews;   5 Water Tenders;   3 Dozers

KEY Message

The FDNY Type 3 Incident Management Team has arrived on the incident and will be shadowing the Northern Rockies Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 today. Command of the Lee Fire will be turned over to the FDNY Type 3 Team at 0600 Monday morning. The Elk Fire will be returned to the local unit at the same time.

Current Status

Lee Fire – Yesterday aviation was utilized to cool down hot spots adjacent to the perimeter. Crews continued their increased patrols and perimeter checks, extinguished hot spots and strengthened lines where needed. Today firefighters will remove the last of the structure protection equipment. Patrols will continue along the fire perimeter. Crews will finish chipping operations and continue debris removal operations from previous fuels reduction work.

Elk Fire – Resources have completed the planned suppression repair and will be returning command of the fire back over to the local unit. There will be no more updates on this fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Scattered rain showers are expected on Sunday afternoon with the possibility of thunderstorm development. A week-long wet pattern will bring rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the fire area, with notable wetting rainfall by the end of the week. Numerous thunderstorms each day could bring heavy rain, small hail, lightning, and outflow winds of 25-35 mph.

Closures and Special Messages

For accurate up-to-date information on evacuations and road closures for Rio Blanco County go to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. For Garfield County updates go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. USFS White River National Forest and BLM closure rescission information is available at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/cowrd-lee-fire

Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3

#DerbyFire Ops Update Saturday afternoon, Aug. 23, 2025

Operations Section Chief, Philip Knaub, provides an overview of firefighting tactics.

Derby Fire: No significant growth overnight and less active today

There was no significant growth on the Derby Fire north of Dotsero, CO overnight. Night operations focused on structure protection in the Sweetwater Canyon area. The fire has been less active today.

Hotshot crews are working to construct and improve fireline directly adjacent to the fire’s edge along the southwest side. Conditions this afternoon have allowed firefighters to conduct a burnout operation on the southern edge of the fire, as discussed in the video here. Smoke may be more visible during the operation. Air resources are on hand for support.

Derby Fire official information

FACEBOOK – Derby fire @derbyfire
INCIWEB – Derby Fire
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST – facebook.com/whiteriverNF @whiteriverNF
_______________

EAGLE COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts
INCIDENT UPDATES – EC Emergency or Reachwell app
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso@eaglecountyso
________________

GARFIELD COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts or Reachwell app
INCIDENT UPDATES / SUBSCRIBE – Garfield County emergency
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff @garcosheriff

Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1

Incident Commander Brent Olson

Location:  11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado
Start Date: 08/02/2025
Cause: Lightning
Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres
Containment: Lee Fire: 80% |  Elk Fire: 100%
355 Total Personnel;   5 Helicopters;   15 Engines;   3 Hand Crews;   7 Water Tenders;   2 Dozers

KEY Message

Rio Blanco County has OPENED the Piceance Creek Road (CR 5). Crews are still working in this area so please use caution, reduce driving speed, and give them space to work.  

Current Status

Lee Fire – Afternoon storms yesterday produced nearly 0.20 inch of rain in Meeker, but no measurable amount over the fire area. Suppression efforts were successful in the northwestern corner of the fire area on a hot spot that was detected. Consequently, firefighters increased foot patrols and perimeter checks, extinguishing hot spots and strengthening lines were needed. Today crews will begin chipping and debris removal operations left over from previous fuels reduction work. With the potential for more thunderstorms with frequent lightning and gusty outflow winds, initial attack resources have been identified and are ready in the event of new starts.

Elk Fire – Resources have completed much of the planned suppression repair efforts and hope to complete this work by end of shift.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected again today with gusty winds and frequent lightning being the main concerns. Sunday onward, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected daily with moderate to heavy rainfall being the main concerns. This will lead to an elevated level of concern for burn scar debris flows and flash flooding into early next week.

Closures and Special Messages

For accurate up-to-date information on evacuations and road closures for Rio Blanco County go to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. For Garfield County updates go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. USFS White River National Forest and BLM closure rescission information is available at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/cowrd-lee-fire

Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3

Derby Fire quick facts: August 23, 2025, 8:15 am

Total acreage: 4,112 acres
0% containment
378 personnel/resources
#DerbyFire#FireYear2025

Structure protection and assessment efforts are ongoing. Handcrews and heavy equipment will continue to build and improve control lines, supported by air resources as weather conditions allow.

Derby Fire official information

FACEBOOK – Derby fire @derbyfire
INCIWEB – Derby Fire
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST – facebook.com/whiteriverNF @whiteriverNF
_______________

EAGLE COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts
INCIDENT UPDATES – EC Emergency or Reachwell app
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso@eaglecountyso
________________

GARFIELD COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts or Reachwell app
INCIDENT UPDATES / SUBSCRIBE – Garfield County emergency
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff @garcosheriff

Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3

Derby Fire Official Information

FACEBOOK – Derby fire @derbyfire
INCIWEB – Derby Fire
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST – facebook.com/whiteriverNF @whiteriverNF
_______________

EAGLE COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts
INCIDENT UPDATES – EC Emergency or Reachwell app
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso@eaglecountyso
________________

GARFIELD COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts or Reachwell app
INCIDENT UPDATES / SUBSCRIBE – Garfield County emergency
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff @garcosheriff

August 22, 2025 Operational Briefing Video with Operations Section Chief Drew Daily

Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
Bureau of Land Management Fire
Bureau of Land Management – Colorado
BLM Colorado Fire
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office – Colorado