Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire Weather Update, Friday, August 29, 2025
Samuel Scoleri, Incident Meteorologist trainee, shares the weather forecast for the next few days on the Derby Fire north of Dotsero, CO. Remnants of Hurricane Juliette will bring wetting rain and possible thunderstorms today. Please be cautious as there’s potential for localized flash flooding and light debris flows over roadways. Beginning Sunday, the weather will be gradually warmer and drier.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 90% 218 Total Personnel; 9 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 2 Water Tenders; 2 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE The Lee Fire remains 137,758 acres with 90 percent containment. Fire activity has been minimal, with no growth observed. An infrared (IR) flight detected only a few hot spots, all of which were well inside the fire’s edge. Recent rainfall has kept conditions favorable, though crews remain mindful of flash flooding and debris flows that may follow periods of heavy rain.
CURRENT STATUS Today, firefighters will continue patrols along the fire’s edge to ensure it remains within its footprint. Suppression repair is underway in several areas, including debris removal, with crews working closely with Resource Advisors to complete this work to agency standards and support long-term recovery. Progress remains steady as work continues toward full containment and recovery of the fire area.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR Widespread rain showers are expected on Friday morning and will continue through much of the day. Some heavier showers may produce lightning and thunder. Conditions are forecast to dry out by late afternoon, with clearing skies into the evening. The rainfall will help keep fire activity minimal, though crews will remain alert for lightning strikes and the potential for flash flooding or debris flows in and around the burn area.
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.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Total acreage: 5,735 acres 5% contained 692 personnel
Many kinds of heavy equipment are used on the fire line to clear the area of consumable fuel. By removing trees and brush to mineral soil, they create “fuel breaks” that reduce the fire’s spread.
In this photo, a bulldozer works to scrape vegetation off the surface of the ground. Hand crews may work ahead of dozer operations as “boots on the ground” to cut trees and brush within the dozer’s path.
As of August 26th, there have been approximately 8 miles of bulldozer line put in along the south and west sides of the fire area.
Photo: Taken on the constructed bulldozer line on the Southeast corner of the Derby Fire. S. Rawding/Derby Fire
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Long term fire analyst, Erin Noonan-Wright, gives an extended outlook regarding fire behavior on the Derby Fire. A fire progression map illustrates the growth of the fire over time. The fire has spread primarily through a mixed conifer/subalpine fir fuel type, slowed in stands of aspen. Long term fire analysts consider trends in winds, rainfall, soil and fuels drought and historical fire behavior to make predictions about how and where the fire could grow.
Heat lingers in heavy fuels in the higher elevation areas of the Derby Fire. The term “heavy fuel” refers to dead trees (also called snags) that are larger than 3 inches in diameter. Large stumps, standing snags and fallen logs are all included in this category.
The larger size of these dead trees makes them slow to ignite, but once smoldering, they’ll hold heat for extended amounts of time. It can take multiple weeks for them to adjust to changes to moisture levels in the atmosphere – earning them the label of “1,000 hour fuels.”
On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, firefighters worked to construct handline on the southeast side of the Derby Fire. When crews encounter burning snags as they construct control lines they use a variety of tools to extinguish the flames. S.Rawding/Derby Fire.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens
Location:Â 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date:Â 8/16/2025; Cause:Â Lightning Size:Â Est. 5,735 acres Completion/Containment:Â 5% Total personnel: 824
Key message: Â
Firefighters continue to build and strengthen control lines and scout for access routes. Smoke may be visible as interior fuels reheat during sunbreaks. Wet weather will temporarily moderate fire activity until drier conditions return.
Current status:
Firefighters are actively assessing fireline construction routes on the western side of the fire. Scouting involves mapping proposed routes and detailing the type and number of resources needed. Along the southwestern edge of the fire, crews are reinforcing control lines by searching for lingering heat and removing or extinguishing still smoldering vegetation. Called mopping up, this fire suppression tactic prevents fire spread as it limits the opportunity for embers to roll or blow across the control line into unburned fuels. On the southeastern and eastern edges firefighters are using chainsaws, hand tools and heavy equipment to continue to build line. Crews are building secondary control lines on the eastern side of the fire where hazardous trees and heavier fuel types prohibit working directly on the fire’s edge. Air resources are evaluating proposed helispot locations to have medical evacuation sites closer to where firefighters are working. Structure protection crews continue to improve and maintain fire defenses around more than 500 structures along Sweetwater Road and Red Dirt Creek Road.
Weather and fire behavior:
Cool and humid weather conditions continue over the next few days. Remnants of hurricane Juliette is expected to bring showers Friday These scattered storms will bring moisture and produce gustier winds. Drier, warmer weather is predicted Monday or Tuesday. Minimal fire behavior is expected, but daytime smoke may be visible. When periods of sunlight dry and warm vegetation, fire activity is increasing at higher elevation areas within the fire perimeter. Dead and downed trees hold heat where hot surfaces are not exposed to moisture. The fire may creep slowly in aspen stands that have not burned completely.
Closures and special messages:
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek Roads have all been reopened, and the Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status. More evacuation information is available at https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
Equipo 3 de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte,Comandante de Incidente Mike Behrens
Ubicación: 13 millas al oeste de Dotsero, CO Fecha de inicio: 08/16/2025; Causa: Rayos  Tamaño: Est. 5,735 acres Finalización/Contención: 5%      Personal total: 824
Mensaje clave:
Los bomberos continĂşan construyendo y reforzando las lĂneas de control y buscando rutas de acceso. Es posible que se observe humo a medida que los combustibles interiores se recalientan durante los claros de sol. El clima hĂşmedo moderará temporalmente la actividad del fuego hasta que se reanude condiciones secas.
Las condiciones climáticas frescas y hĂşmedas continuarán durante los prĂłximos dĂas. Se espera que los remanentes del huracán Juliette traigan lluvias el viernes. Estas tormentas dispersas traerán humedad y producirán vientos más racheados. Se pronostica un clima más seco y cálido el lunes o martes. Se espera un comportamiento mĂnimo del fuego, pero podrĂa verse humo durante el dĂa. Cuando los perĂodos de luz solar secan y calientan la vegetaciĂłn, la actividad del fuego aumenta en las zonas de mayor altitud dentro del perĂmetro del incendio. Los árboles muertos y derribados retienen el calor donde las superficies calientes no están expuestas a la humedad. El fuego podrĂa propagarse lentamente en los arboledas de álamos temblones que no se han quemado completamente.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire weather update 8-27-2025:
Incident Meteorologist, Jason Straub, discusses the upcoming weather forecast.
More light rain last night and early this morning. Cumulative total is 0.7″. Much lower chances of rain today as we switch to a drying period instead of monsoonal flow.
Smoke continues from smoldering with some single tree torching observed yesterday.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Ops Update Monday morning, Aug. 28, 2025. Philip Knaub, Operations Sections Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the Derby Fire. Sunbreaks are rekindling smoldering conifer trees at higher elevations within the fire perimeter and smoke will be visible during periods of sunshine today. Heat remains despite the rain. Firefighters are building secondary control lines on the eastern side of the fire where hazardous terrain, snags, and heavier fuel types make safe access more difficult. Control line construction continues on the southeastern fire edge. Firefighters are mopping up (removing and extinguishing burning vegetation) and patrolling completed control lines. On the west side, incident managers are evaluating a potential spike camp location for smokejumpers to more easily access the most active part of the fire. We expect to see an increase in containment over the next few days.
