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.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire Quick Facts: August 28, 2025 Total acreage: 5,723 acres 4% contained 824 personnel
Firefighters continue to strengthen control line along the southeastern side of the fire. Within the fire footprint, smoke may be visible as sunlight rekindles isolated areas of smoldering timber. The mix of wetting and drying weather, varying winds, and patchwork fuel types lead to inconsistent fuel consumption across the incident. The rock outcrop in the rear of the photo is near the fire origin.
Photo: Looking northwest from Sugarloaf Mountain on the southeast side of the Derby Fire. S.Rawding/Derby Fire.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 90% 215 Total Personnel; 9 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 2 Water Tenders; 2 Dozers
CURRENT STATUS
Crews will continue patrols along the fire perimeter today to ensure it stays within its current footprint. Suppression repair operations are moving forward in close coordination with Resource Advisors and local agencies, following the approved Suppression Repair Plan.
Repair work is addressing areas disturbed by suppression activities, with crews working to stabilize firelines, restore ground conditions, and remove equipment no longer needed on the line. These efforts are an important step in reducing impacts and supporting long-term recovery efforts across the fire area.
Progress continues steadily as firefighters remain focused on these repair and patrol operations while working toward complete containment.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Storm chances remain in the forecast, with the highest potential for development on the southern portion of the fire. Storms are expected to track from the southwest to the northeast, with the best opportunity for development between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. If skies clear during the late morning, storms are likely to form and bring rain, lightning, and the potential for localized flooding; if clouds remain in place, conditions may stay limited to lighter, scattered showers.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Wildland firefighting can be dangerous work, and our crews are always preparing for the unexpected. In this video, a Forest Service fire suppression module practices training for what to do if a firefighter is hurt on the fireline or in a remote area. These drills make sure that if the unfortunate happens, crews are ready to take care of each other and get everyone home safe.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Today marks the wrap-up of operations at the Livestock Evacuation Center in Eagle County. Many residents have safely picked up their animals and returned home. We’re grateful to everyone who helped care for these animals during the fire response, and to the community for their support. The Small Animal Shelter remains open for anyone who still needs a safe place for pets.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens
Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 5,723 acres Completion/Containment: 4% 864 total personnel
KEY MESSAGE:
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek roads have all been reopened. The Garfield and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status. The Forest Service and BLM have both reduced the size of their closure areas. Firefighters have built almost 11 miles of control lines, and the Derby Fire has been declared 4% contained.
CURRENT STATUS:
Showers have temporarily moderated fire activity this week, but incident managers predict wildfire activity will increase again when the weather warms and fuels dry out. Firefighters have constructed almost 11 miles of handlines and dozerlines along the east, south, and west fire perimeters. The Derby Fire has been declared 4% contained. The term “containment” is used when fire managers are confident that wind and weather conditions will not push the fire past completed control lines. Crews will work to strengthen and widen fire lines as weather and conditions allow. Air support is scouting for potential helispot sites, and structure protection crews are continuing to improve fire defenses around more than 500 structures along Sweetwater Road and Red Dirt Creek Road.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Incident meteorologists predict that showers will continue Wednesday and probably through the rest of this week before warmer weather returns early next week. Daytime smoke and nighttime fire glows may be visible at times when fuels dry out and fire activity increases.
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. 5723 acres Finalización/Contención: 4% 864 Personal total
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Ops Update Monday morning, Aug. 27, 2025. Philip Knaub, Operations Sections Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the Derby Fire. The Derby Fire is now 4% contained. Firefighters were able to access the southeast fire perimeter yesterday and are confident that any changes in weather conditions will not push the fire over the control line in this area. Look for a black line on the fire map to illustrate containment. Rain reached most areas of the fire yesterday, however, dead and down trees continue to hold heat. Large fuels are slow to accept moisture and will continue to smolder. As the weather dries out later this week, we expect to see more active fire behavior. On the east and west sides of the fire perimeter, firefighters are scouting for opportunities to continue to build line with handcrews and heavy equipment.
Video shows a glimpse of some of the animals that were cared for at the livestock center.