Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1
The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 extends its sincere gratitude to the communities of Meeker and Rifle for their support throughout our tenure in the area.
On Monday, August 25, we will officially transfer command of the Lee Fire to the FDNY Incident Management Team. We are grateful for the opportunity to have served you.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1
Incident Commander Brent Olson
Location:Â Â 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date:Â 08/02/2025 Cause:Â Lightning Size:Â Lee Fire: 137,758 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment:Â Lee Fire: 86% | Â Elk Fire: 100% 287 Total Personnel;Â Â 5 Helicopters;Â Â 12 Engines;Â Â 3 Hand Crews;Â Â 5 Water Tenders;Â Â 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.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1
Incident Commander Brent Olson
Location:Â Â 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date:Â 08/02/2025 Cause:Â Lightning Size:Â Lee Fire: 137,758 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment:Â Lee Fire: 80% | Â Elk Fire: 100% 355 Total Personnel;Â Â 5 Helicopters;Â Â 15 Engines;Â Â 3 Hand Crews;Â Â 7 Water Tenders;Â Â 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.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,755 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 76% | Elk Fire: 100%
400 Total Personnel; 5 Helicopters; 21 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 9 Water Tenders; 3 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE
Pronounced smoke columns will continue to be visible from both the Lee and Elk Fires. This lingering activity is confined well within the interior of both fires and poses no threat to containment lines. It is driven by the persistent hot, dry weather and will occur until significant precipitation. As these islands of unburned vegetation are consumed, it serves to strengthen containment lines by removing fuels thereby reducing spotting potential.
CURRENT STATUS
Lee Fire – Yesterday, resources completed chipping operations on the east flank and will continue along the southern edge of the fire. With the hot, dry and windy conditions testing containment lines yesterday, firefighters extended staffing hours to monitor and reinforce lines to prevent any spread. Today, aviation and ground crews will continue yesterday’s work of cooling down a hot spot along the fire’s edge and improving fire lines. Contingency work will resume on a fuel break adjacent to the fire’s southern edge.
Elk Fire – Resources have completed much of the planned suppression repair efforts and will continue with heavy machine operations until completion over the next few days.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
A few showers will pass over the fire area this morning. More scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the afternoon, bringing chances of brief heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected this weekend with a significantly wetter period moving in the area late Sunday through Wednesday.
Equipo 1 de Gestión de Incidentes del Complejo de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante de Incidentes Brent Olson
Ubicación: 11 millas al sur de Meeker, Colorado Fecha de inicio: 08/02/2025 Causa: Relámpago Tamaño: Lee Incendio: 137,755 acres | Incendio Elk: 14,518 acres Contención: Incendio Lee: 76% | Incendio Elk: 100% 400 Personal total; 21 camiones de bomberos; 5 helicópteros; 2 cuadrillas; 3 topadoras; 9 Licitaciones de agua
MENSAJE CLAVE Las columnas de humo pronunciadas seguirán siendo visibles desde los incendios Lee y Elk. Esta actividad persistente está confinada dentro del interior de ambos incendios y no representa una amenaza para las lÃneas de contención. Es impulsado por el clima cálido y seco persistente y ocurrirá hasta precipitaciones significativas. A medida que se consumen estas islas de vegetación no quemada, sirve para fortalecer las lÃneas de contención al eliminar los combustibles, lo que reduce el potencial de detección.
ESTADO ACTUAL: Incendio Lee – Ayer, los recursos completaron las operaciones de astillado en el flanco este y continuarán a lo largo del borde sur del incendio. Con las condiciones cálidas, secas y ventosas que pusieron a prueba las lÃneas de contención ayer, los bomberos extendieron las horas de personal para monitorear y reforzar las lÃneas para evitar cualquier propagación. Hoy, los equipos de aviación y tierra continuarán el trabajo de ayer de enfriar un punto caliente a lo largo del borde del incendio y mejorar las lÃneas de fuego. El trabajo de contingencia se reanudará en un descanso de combustible adyacente al borde sur del incendio.
Incendio Elk – Recursos ha completado gran parte de los esfuerzos de reparación de supresión planificados y continuará con las operaciones de maquinaria pesada hasta su finalización en los próximos dÃas.
CIERRES Y MENSAJES ESPECIALES Piceance Creek Road (CR 5) permanece cerrada. Para obtener información precisa y actualizada sobre evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras para el condado de RÃo Blanco, visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RÃo Blanco en: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. Para obtener actualizaciones del condado de Garfield, visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. La información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River está disponible en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. La información sobre el cierre de la oficina de campo de BLM White River está disponible en: https://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,755 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 73% | Elk Fire: 100% 426 Total Personnel; 5 Helicopters; 25 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 13 Water Tenders; 5 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE
Prominent smoke columns will be visible on both the Lee and Elk Fires. This residual fire activity is well within the fire interior and is associated with the hot and dry weather pattern. Holding actions remain the critical suppression action with the critical fire weather in place.
CURRENT STATUS
Lee Fire – Yesterday resources on the eastern flank completed nearly 4 miles of chipping, which is the act of processing large debris into smaller woodchips which are dispersed over a wide area. The interior pockets of heat continued to burn and produce visible smoke columns. Resources adjusted their shift lengths to monitor these “green islands”. Today crews will continue with chipping operations and reinforcing containment lines by patrolling and targeting remaining hot spots. Initial attack resources have been identified and are ready in the event of new starts.
Elk Fire – Yesterday firefighters nearly completed suppression repair on the western flank of the fire. Heavy machinery repair operations will continue over the next few days.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Hot and dry conditions continue Thursday, with cloud cover increasing in the late afternoon and evening hours. With cumulus buildups near the fire, erratic outflow winds of 35 to 45 mph are possible during the late afternoon and evening on Thursday. A few passing rain showers are possible Friday morning, with the threat of afternoon showers and thunderstorms gradually increasing each day as the region enters a wetter pattern this weekend.
Equipo de gestión de incidentes 1 del complejo Northern Rockies, comandante del incidente Brent Olson
Ubicación: 11 millas al sur de Meeker, Colorado Fecha de inicio: 08/02/2025 Causa: Rayo Tamaño: Incendio Lee: 137,755 acres | Incendio Elk: 14,518 acres Contención: Incendio Lee: 73% | Incendio Elk: 100% 426 Personal en total; 5 Helicópteros; 25 Motores; 2 Equipos de Mano; 13 Camiones de Agua; 5 Bulldozers
MENSAJE CLAVE
Se observarán columnas de humo prominentes en los incendios de Lee y Elk. Esta actividad residual del incendio se encuentra bien dentro del interior del incendio y está asociada con el clima cálido y seco. Las acciones de contención siguen siendo cruciales para la extinción, considerando las condiciones climáticas crÃticas para el incendio.
ESTADO ACTUAL
Incendio Lee: Ayer, los recursos en el flanco este completaron casi 6.5 kilómetros de astillado, que consiste en procesar escombros grandes en astillas de madera más pequeñas que se dispersan en una amplia zona. Las áreas de calor interiores continuaron ardiendo y produciendo columnas de humo visibles. Los recursos ajustaron la duración de sus turnos para monitorear estas “islas verdes”. Hoy, las cuadrillas continuarán con las operaciones de astillado y reforzarán las lÃneas de contención mediante patrullaje y la identificación de los puntos calientes restantes. Se han identificado los recursos de ataque inicial y están listos en caso de nuevos incendios.
Incendio Elk : Ayer, los bomberos casi completaron las reparaciones de extinción en el flanco oeste del incendio. Las operaciones de reparación de maquinaria pesada continuarán durante los próximos dÃas.
La carretera Piceance Creek (CR 5) permanece cerrada. Para obtener información precisa y actualizada sobre evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras en el condado de RÃo Blanco, visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RÃo Blanco: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice . Para obtener información actualizada del condado de Garfield, visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/ . La información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River está disponible en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts . La información sobre el cierre de la Oficina de Campo de BLM White River está disponible en: https://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW .
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,755 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 68% | Elk Fire: 100% 523 Total Personnel; 5 Helicopters; 28 Engines; 6 Hand Crews; 7 Water Tenders; 5 Dozers
Current Status:
Lee Fire – Yesterday firefighters evaluated structure protection needs in unaffected areas and began disassembling and backhauling unnecessary supplies. Crews patrolled the fire lines and monitored for hot spots. Today crews intend to clean up some remaining interior pockets of unburned fuel, creating a more uniform black footprint. Firefighters will patrol the fire perimeter and increase mop-up depth where possible along the fire lines. Contingency equipment and crews are identified to respond and support the local fire response agencies if they need initial attack assistance on any new fires.
Elk Fire – For the next few days, suppression repair teams will operate heavy machinery to loosen the soil and disperse vegetation, reestablishing the land’s original contours and surface features. These efforts are essential for curbing erosion, securing soil stability, and encouraging vigorous vegetation regrowth. The impacts caused by the firefighting efforts are the focus of this repair work.
Weather and Fire Behavior
Record temperatures are expected throughout the week. Chances for moisture will gradually increase each day. Limited rainfall is expected in the next few days, but strong outflow winds and lightning will be possible. Wetting rain chances increase this weekend and into early next week.
Another warm and dry day will bring moderate to active fire behavior in unburned islands that still hold heat on their perimeters. Surface fire spread along with single tree and group tree torching will produce visible smoke columns.
Equipo 1 de Gestión de Incidentes del Complejo de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante de Incidentes Brent Olson Ubicación: 11 millas al sur de Meeker, Colorado Fecha de inicio: 08/02/2025 Causa: Relámpago Tamaño: Lee Incendio: 137,755 acres | Incendio Elk: 14,518 acres Contención: Incendio Lee: 68% | Incendio Elk: 100% 523 Personal total; 28 camiones de bomberos; 5 helicópteros; 6 cuadrillas; 5 topadoras; 7 Licitaciones de agua
ESTADO ACTUAL: Incendio Lee – Ayer, los bomberos evaluaron las necesidades de protección de estructuras en áreas no afectadas y comenzaron a desmontar y transportar suministros innecesarios. Los equipos patrullaron las lÃneas de fuego y monitorearon los puntos calientes. Hoy en dÃa, las cuadrillas tienen la intención de limpiar algunas bolsas interiores restantes de combustible no quemado, creando una huella negra más uniforme. Los bomberos patrullarán el perÃmetro del incendio y aumentarán la profundidad de limpieza cuando sea posible a lo largo de las lÃneas de fuego. Se identifican equipos y cuadrillas de contingencia para responder y apoyar a las agencias locales de respuesta a incendios si necesitan asistencia de ataque inicial en cualquier incendio nuevo. Incendio Elk – Durante los próximos dÃas, los equipos de reparación de la supresión operarán maquinaria pesada para aflojar el suelo y dispersar la vegetación, restableciendo los contornos originales de la tierra y las caracterÃsticas de la superficie. Estos esfuerzos son esenciales para frenar la erosión, asegurar la estabilidad del suelo y fomentar el crecimiento vigoroso de la vegetación. Los impactos causados por los esfuerzos de extinción de incendios son el foco de este trabajo de reparación.
Otro dÃa cálido y seco traerá un comportamiento de fuego moderado a activo en islas no quemadas que aún mantienen calor en sus perÃmetros. La propagación del fuego en la superficie junto con la quema de un solo árbol y un árbol grupal producirá columnas de humo visibles.
CIERRES Y MENSAJES ESPECIALES Piceance Creek Road (CR 5) permanece cerrada. Para obtener información precisa y actualizada sobre evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras para el condado de RÃo Blanco, visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RÃo Blanco en: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. Para obtener actualizaciones del condado de Garfield, visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. La información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River está disponible en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. La información sobre el cierre de la oficina de campo de BLM White River está disponible en: https://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW.
: NR CIMT 1 Public Information Officer Anna Bateson