Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
The #DerbyFire gained almost two hundred more personnel over recent days, primarily additional handcrews and engines. Resource needs are evaluated daily and increased or decreased depending on the needs of the fire. When local and regional resources are already engaged responding to fires, resources may come from all over the country to assist. Personnel may serve up to 14-21 day shifts before they’re required to come off an incident to rest. #FireYear2025
Photo: A Florida Suppression Module gather for a photo where they were organizing and preparing structure protection equipment in the Sweetwater Canyon area during the rains on Monday, August 25, 2025. S.Rawding/Derby Fire.
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. 5,346 acres Completion/Containment: 0% 844 total personnel
Key Message:
Coffeepot Road can again be accessed from its intersection with Colorado River Rd, as the southern end of the Colorado River Road closure has been moved northward. The Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek to pre-evacuation (SET) status.
Current Status:
Wetting rain fell across the Derby Fire on Monday morning, and fire behavior has temporarily moderated across the area. However incident managers predict wildfire activity will increase again when the weather warms and fuels dry out. Firefighters are continuing to build control lines along the east, south, and west flanks from a network of roads, dozer line, and hand line. They will work to strengthen and widen those fire lines as weather and conditions allow. About three quarters of the recent growth on the eastern perimeter has been halted with new control lines. Structure protection crews are working along Red Dirt Creek Road. Across the fire they have prepared over 500 structures by positioning sprinkler kits and removing surrounding fuels. Incident managers held a community meeting Monday evening to engage the public and answer questions.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
Wetting rains fell on the Derby Fire on Monday morning, and there is a strong likelihood that the rains will continue on Tuesday and throughout the week. Daytime smoke and nighttime fire glows may be visible at times when fuels dry out and fire activity increases.
Closures and Special Messages:
Garfield and Eagle Counties have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek to pre-evacuation (SET). Zones GYF-263, 266-A, 267, 300, 366, and 369 are also in pre-evacuation status. More evacuation information is available at https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org, including where to shelter and resources for pets and livestock.
Coffeepot Road can again be accessed from its intersection with Colorado River Road, as the southern end of the Colorado River Road closure has been moved northward to a site just past its intersection with Coffeepot. Beyond that, Colorado River Road remains closed to non-residents and unapproved traffic through its intersection with Red Dirt Creek Road.
The Forest Service and BLM have both issued public closure orders in the vicinity of the fire to protect public and firefighter safety. The White River National Forest’s closure order and map are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/…/expanded-derby-fire-closure. The BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office’s closure order and map are posted at https://www.blm.gov/…/blm-issues-land-closure-garfield…. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire.
Please see the attached photo for today’s smoke outlook.
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. 5346 acres Finalización/Contención: 0% 844 Personal total
El lunes por la mañana cayĂł lluvia torrencial sobre el incendio Derby, y el comportamiento del fuego se ha moderado temporalmente en toda la zona. Sin embargo, los administradores de incidentes predicen que la actividad de incendios forestales aumentará de nuevo cuando el clima mejore y los combustibles se sequen. Los bomberos continĂşan construyendo lĂneas de control a lo largo de los flancos este, sur y oeste a partir de una red de carreteras, una lĂnea de excavadoras y una lĂnea de mano. Trabajarán para reforzar y ampliar estas lĂneas de control segĂşn lo permitan el clima y las condiciones. Aproximadamente tres cuartas partes del reciente crecimiento en el perĂmetro este se han detenido con nuevas lĂneas de control. Los equipos de protecciĂłn de estructuras están trabajando a lo largo de Red Dirt Creek Road. Al otro lado del incendio, han preparado más de 500 estructuras mediante la instalaciĂłn de equipos de rociadores y la retirada de los combustibles circundantes. Los gestores de incidentes organizaron una reuniĂłn comunitaria el lunes por la noche para interactuar con el pĂşblico y responder preguntas.
Comportamiento del clima y el fuego
El lunes por la mañana cayeron lluvias torrenciales sobre el incendio Derby, y es muy probable que continúen el martes y durante toda la semana. Es posible que se observe humo diurno y destellos nocturnos del fuego cuando los combustibles se sequen y aumente la actividad del incendio.
El Colorado River Road permanece cerrado para todos aquellos que no sean residentes y el tráfico no autorizado en la rotonda al norte de Dotsero hasta Red Dirt Road. Tenga en cuenta que no se puede acceder a Coffeepot Road desde su intersección con Colorado River Road.
The photos below illustrate the Derby Fire Daily update, available in English and Spanish, the public information fire map for the day, evacuation and closure map and today’s smoke outlook. These documents are also available on the Derby Fire Inciweb website here: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire Weather update 8-26-2025
Incident Meteorologist, Jason Straub, discusses the upcoming weather forecast. Monsoon moisture is coming in to the area, starting this morning and into the afternoon. We are expecting 1/10 to 2/10 inch of rain. The National Weather Service station in Grand Junction, CO has issued a flash flood warning. These rainfall rates could produce flash floods and debris flows. Rain is expected to continue tomorrow with drier air moving in later this week.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Ops Update Monday morning, Aug. 26, 2025
Operations Section Chief, Philip Knaub, discusses firefighting tactics on the Derby Fire. Due to the weather last night, we were unable to fly an infrared flight to map the fire perimeter. As the rain cleared yesterday afternoon, firefighters were access the southwest and east sides of the fireline and found no significant fire growth. As weather allows today, scouting will continue on the west side of the fire to look for opportunities to build direct fireline from the southwest up. Structure protection efforts continue in the Sweetwater drainage. Structure assessment and protection work will be ongoing along Red Dirt Creek Road on the east side. Firefighters will continue to monitor and assess the fireline to ensure the fire is not progressing.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 138,844 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 90%
208 Total Personnel; 1 Helicopter; 10 Engines; 1 Hand Crew; 1 Water Tender; 2 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE
Today, crews are continuing repair work in areas affected by suppression activities, following agency standards and working closely with Resource Advisors. These efforts aim to reduce the impacts of firefighting operations while protecting important natural and cultural resources. Fireline is being restored to local and agency standards, and patrols are underway to ensure the fire remains secure within its current footprint. Suppression repair operations will continue under the approved Suppression Repair Plan, minimizing impacts and supporting progress toward full containment
CURRENT STATUS
Yesterday, the FDNY Incident Management Team formally assumed command of the Lee Fire. Updated acreage was reported following the most recent infrared flight, which was completed after several earlier cancellations due to unfavorable weather conditions. This flight provided a clearer picture of current fire activity and perimeter status. Across all divisions, crews continued suppression repair, and debris removal, working closely with Resource Advisors to mitigate impacts and restore affected areas. These efforts remain a priority as containment objectives progress and conditions allow.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
The monsoonal pattern remains firmly in place, with rainfall probabilities near 100% over the coming days. Widespread cloud cover with embedded showers is moving across the area. Should clearing occur by midday, stronger thunderstorms are likely to develop, increasing the potential for flash flooding. If cloud cover persists, conditions remain limited to lighter, intermittent rain with minimal lightning or heavy downpours.
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
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire Quick Facts: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Total acreage: 5,346 acres 0% containment 844 personnel
Firefighters tested structure protection systems yesterday in the Sweetwater Canyon area. In this photo, a sprinkler wets down the lawn of a resident, drawing water from a foldable water tank. The water tanks are filled by fire engines or water tenders.
Pumps push the water from the water tank through hose lays to the sprinkler systems. Photo by Stephen Rawding/Derby Fire.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office has made a change to the Colorado River Road closure near Dotsero, CO, moving the closure from north of the Dotsero roundabout to just north of the intersection of Colorado River and Coffee Pot roads. Coffee Pot Road is now open to non-local traffic. Colorado River Road remains closed to all non-local residents and non-emergency traffic north of this intersection. A security checkpoint is in place at this point.
A strong thunderstorm will impact south central Garfield County through 2:15 p.m. MDT
At 1:51 p.m. MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 18 miles northwest of De Beque, or 28 miles north of Grand Junction, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE Radar indicated.
IMPACT Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central Garfield County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
