Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Overnight, diurnal wind increased fire behavior. The fire was active through the night increasing along the southern edge. Today, fire behavior was reduced with the lack of wind. We expect to have accurate acreage tomorrow after the infrared flight tonight.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Here is this morning’s update from Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire information Public phone line: (970) 355-3282 Office hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2025.derby@firenet.gov
August 20, 2025, 1:03 p.m. –
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens Location: 13 miles west of Dotsero, CO Start date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 839 acres Completion/containment: 0% 80 est. Total Personnel; 6 Engines; 1 Helicopter; 2 Hand Crews
KEY MESSAGE:
The Derby Fire was ignited by lightning on an extremely steep cliff face in a remote area near the Flat Tops Wilderness on Saturday evening. Initial attack efforts by smokejumpers on Sunday were hindered by rollout of burning material, repeatedly igniting the slope below the main fire.
Protection of life and property are key objectives for managing this fire.
CURRENT STATUS:
The Complex Incident Management Team managing the Turner Gulch Fire assumed command of the Derby Fire this morning. The Derby Fire saw significant growth overnight. Structure assessment and area reconnaissance will be the main tasks for fire managers today, determining the best strategy to engage the fire with the most likelihood for success, while ensuring for firefighter safety. The remote location makes access very difficult.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Several consecutive days of hot and dry weather with very low relative humidities has made fuels across Colorado very receptive. Late today, an incoming monsoonal front may produce erratic outflow winds, increasing rates of spread in the subalpine fir and lodgepole pine forest.
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES
Eagle County has issued an evacuation notice that Residents of Sweetwater Rd and areas of the Colorado River Rd from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek must be out of their homes by 12pm noon Wed, 8/20. Derby Mesa Loop remains in pre-evacuation status. Pre-evacuation notice and other information on the Derby Fire is available at www.ecemergency.org. The White River National Forest has issued a public closure for firefighter and public safety in Eagle and Garfield Counties in the vicinity of the fire. The closure is within the Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts. The closure order and map are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver. Specific closure information and maps will also be posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire as they are implemented.
MENSAJE CLAVE: El incendio Derby se originó el sábado por la noche a causa de un rayo en un acantilado extremadamente empinado en una zona remota cerca de Flat Tops Wilderness. Los esfuerzos iniciales de ataque de los paracaidistas el domingo se vieron obstaculizados por el despliegue de material incendiario, que incendió repetidamente la ladera bajo el incendio principal.
La protección de vidas y propiedades es fundamental para la gestión de este incendio.
CLIMA Y COMPORTAMIENTO DEL INCENDIO Varios dÃas consecutivos de clima cálido y seco con humedades relativas muy bajas han hecho que los combustibles en todo Colorado sean muy receptivos. Más tarde hoy, un frente monzónico entrante podrÃa producir vientos de salida erráticos, aumentando las tasas de propagación en los bosques de abetos subalpinos y pinos lodgepole.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the Derby Fire at 6:00 a.m. today. It is currently estimated at over 839 acres. More resources are arriving on-scene.
Here is an operational update and more information will be forthcoming throughout the day.
