There will be a public meeting tonight at 7pm at the Colorado Mountain College, Rifle Campus. A Spanish interpreter will be present.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today, with high temperatures, low humidity, and shifting winds expected to increase fire activity and spotting potential.
Crews on both fires are using a mix of direct and indirect strategies to secure edges, protect homes and other values at risk, and address spot fires. Aircraft are supporting ground efforts and adjusting operations to improve safety as conditions change.
The change in acreage is due to better mapping overnight.
Critical fire weather is expected again tomorrow with hot, dry, windy conditions. Crews will continue constructing and securing fireline on both fires, along with patrolling and mopping up on the Elk Fire and working to limit the Lee Fire’s southern spread.
We understand how important Highway 13 is as a lifeline for travel, commerce, and daily life, and Hogback Ridge as a defining part of the local landscape. Our operations are focused on protecting both and restoring safe access as soon as it’s possible to do so.
*The reduction in reported acreage on the Elk Fire is due to better mapping.
August 13, 2025, 4:42 p.m. – Critical fire weather arrived as forecasted, bringing hot, dry conditions and increasing west-northwest winds that have driven more active fire behavior and are challenging containment lines. Operations today, including strategic firing, have gone as planned, with ground crews receiving support from aerial resources, including the Chinook helicopter shown here.
The southern edge of the Lee Fire has reached the Garfield County line, prompting the above changes to evacuation status.
Zone 81 and 85 are on top of the Roan Plateau in industrial landscape and BLM area (already under a closure), not residential areas.
Fire managers’ strategic planning includes multiple secondary and contingency lines between the fire’s edge and the southern edge of the Roan Plateau.
As a reminder:
GO = Evacuate immediately from your area. Leave now – danger in your area.
SET = Short notice evacuation likely in your area. Prepare for sudden evacuations. Leave now if you need extra time.
READY = Possible evacuation in your area. Prepare, monitor, and pack your valuables.
El borde sur del incendio Lee ha llegado a la lĂnea del condado de Garfield, lo que provocĂł los cambios mencionados anteriormente en el estado de evacuaciĂłn.
Las zonas 81 y 85 están en la parte superior de la meseta de Roan en el paisaje industrial y el área BLM (ya bajo cierre), no son áreas residenciales.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 – 11:01 am Size: Elk Fire: 14,549 acres | Lee Fire: 120,650 acres Total Personnel: 1,284 Containment: Elk Fire: 75% | Lee Fire 4% Cause: Lightning Resources: 14 Aircraft | 26 Hand Crews | 77 Engines | 10 Heavy Equipment
Important Notes: The decrease in containment for the Lee Fire is due to an increase in acreage and expansion of the perimeter of the fire. Existing containment lines have not been lost. Critical fire weather is expected today on the Lee Fire. Shifting winds with hot, dry temperatures will challenge firefighters, especially on the southern portion.
Yesterday: Lee Fire – Firefighters on the northwest side of the Lee Fire were able to take advantage of favorable weather to construct firelines directly at its edge. Strategic firing operations on the southwest side of the fire were conducted as planned with moderate fire behavior and good success in strengthening the line along County Road 5 and County Road 3. Firefighters continued reinforcing containment lines on the north and east side of the fire and along Highway 13. They also continued securing lines around structures and other values at risk. Firefighters faced challenging conditions as they worked on the spot fire south of County Road 5. Air tankers and helicopters assisted these efforts, focusing on slowing fire spread. Night shift continued firing operations on the southeast of Cow Creek to limit the potential for fire spread to the south.
Elk Fire: Firefighters made significant progress around the perimeter of the Elk Fire. Crews continued to mop-up and patrol to eliminate hotspots and reinforce containment lines. Some flare up occurred overnight as the fire reached unburned pockets of fuels inside the fire perimeter. Firefighters working on structure protection continued to patrol around structures and other values at risk.
Current Situation: Lee Fire – Active fire behavior is expected, especially in the southern area. Critical fire weather will bring shifting winds, low humidity, and hotter temperatures that will challenge existing lines along Highway 13. Crews will continue to monitor and improve containment lines west of Highway 13 and south of Highway 64. Firefighters will work on constructing firelines around the spot fire below County Road 5. Firefighters will continue to scout and construct containment lines in the southern area by incorporating roads, trails and natural features that would inhibit fire growth. Constructing indirect or secondary lines provides firefighters with the opportunity to work the fire on their terms with the highest probability of success of protecting values at risk.
Elk Fire: Crews will continue reinforcing containment lines off County Road 8 and in the Beaver Creek area as they patrol and mop up any hotspots. Crew will continue working to secure lines on the west side of the fire. Crews are working toward the goal to fully secure the perimeter of the fire.
Weather & Fire Behavior: Critical fire weather is expected today. Winds will shift to the west/northwest. Hotter and dryer conditions will prevail. Relative humidity will be at 7-10 percent. There is a potential for the development of large plumes of smoke and possibly of Pyrocumulus clouds.
Issued for Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Grand, Eagle, Summit, and southern parts of Routt and Jackson Counties Issued at 8:07 AM MDT, Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Affected Area: Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Grand, Eagle, Summit, and southern parts of Routt and Jackson Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Meeker, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Nucla, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Eagle, Vail and Breckenridge.
Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Wednesday, August 13, 2025 to 9:00 AM MDT, Thursday, August 14, 2025
Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in yourneighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Outlook: Widespread moderate to heavy smoke has been observed across the advisory area Wednesday morning. Additional heavy smoke is possible Wednesday afternoon and evening for areas downwind of the wildfires in Rio Blanco County, possibly impacting areas along and north of Interstate 70 within the advisory area.
Expect hotter, drier conditions today with strong winds shifting from north to west, making fire activity more likely and raising the risk of fire growth. Crews are working to strengthen fire lines, especially on the southern end of the Lee Fire. Air support will be assisting ground teams throughout the day as conditions allow.
Stay safe, keep an eye on conditions, and please check official sources for the latest updates!
August 12, 2025, 10:05 p.m. – Elk Fire – 14,549 acres | 75% contained Lee Fire – 120,650 acres | 4% contained
Containment on the Lee Fire decreased slightly today due to fire growth and expansion of the perimeter. While we’ve seen significant progress on the Elk Fire, tomorrow brings critical fire weather, meaning conditions will make fire activity more likely and harder to control. Winds will shift and increase from the west/northwest, temperatures will rise into the low 90s, and humidity will drop into the single digits.
These factors could produce tall smoke plumes, erratic surface winds, and an increased risk of spotting, especially near Highway 13.
In preparation, crews on both fires will work through the night with heavy equipment to strengthen and secure lines, check for heat, and address interior hot spots identified by infrared flights. Work will also continue on the spot fire south of County Road 5, along with scouting for potential contingency lines near Highway 13.
We’ll share updates as conditions change tomorrow. Please stay alert, ensure you are signed up for emergency alerts, and follow verified information from official sources including this page and at:
