Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
With the reduction in fire activity and resources assigned, the complexity of the Derby Fire is decreasing. In response, a Type Three Incident Management organization will officially take command of the Derby Fire on Saturday at 6:00 a.m. The Incident Commander will be Patrick Kieran. Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Three would like to thank the citizens of Garfield and Eagle County for your hospitality. Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Three Incident Commander Ben Sanders talks about our time at the Derby Fire.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Hear from a couple in the Sweetwater community, who were evacuated during the initial parts of the fire, and came back to see the works crews have done to protect their home. #derbyfire#FireYear2025
Size: 5,453 Total Personnel: 470 Containment: 42% Cause: Lightning Resources: 4 Aircraft | 7 Hand Crews | 18 Engines | 5 Heavy Equipment
Transition to Type 3 Team:
With a reduction in fire activity and resources assigned, the complexity of the Derby Fire is decreasing. In response, a Type 3 incident management organization will officially take command of the Derby Fire on Saturday at 6:00 a.m. While the management of the fire will transfer to a different team, resources are remaining to perform fire suppression. However, personnel are being released to ensure staffing levels match the operational needs of the incident while maintaining the capability to respond should conditions change.
Current Situation:
Firefighters are continuing work on the western fire edge. Thursday, hotshots worked with Unmanned Aerial Systems, commonly known as drones, to identify hotspots and extinguish them within the Flat Top Wilderness area.
On the eastern side of the fire, crews are working to reinforce a section of fireline that climbs north through the rugged terrain near the Poison Creek drainage. Air resources assisted in delivering gear and equipment to eliminate the need for firefighters to carry it in, as one crew will utilize a spike camp to continue working in a more remote area. Medical personnel and equipment will remain nearby to support firefighters if necessary.
On the southeast part of the fire, crews have begun suppression repair, in collaboration with a resource advisor (READ). A READ’s role is to advise incident personnel to identify and mitigate impacts of fire suppression activities on natural and cultural resources. Part of the suppression repair is focusing on fireline near historic cabins and a portion of the Ute-Sweetwater Trail.
Suppression repair consists of restoring areas disturbed by fireline construction, staging areas, helipads, and other operational activities to pre-fire conditions. Heavy equipment is used to pull back the removed vegetation over the dozer lines. Replacing vegetation helps prevent soil erosion and makes it easier for the environment to recover.
Weather & Fire Behavior:
A change in weather will bring a heavy cloud cover, scattered showers, and possible thunderstorms throughout the day with a temperature drop to 65 degrees. The potential for fire activity is low.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. All unauthorized aircraft (including drones) are prohibited from flying near the fire, as they can interfere with authorized air support operations. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Derby Fire Information
Phone: 970-355-3283 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Email: 2025.Derby@firenet.gov
Actualización Diaria para el Incendio Derby – el 5 de septiembre de 2025
Equipo 3 del Manejo de Incidentes Complejos del Ãrea de las Montañas Rocosas Comandantes del Incidente: Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders
Información del incendio: 970-355-3283 Acres: 5,453 Personal: 470 Contención: 42% Causa: Rayos Recursos: 4 aeronaves | 7 cuadrillas | 18 camiones de bomberos | 5 equipo pesados
Transferencia de mando al Equipo Tipo 3:
Con la reducción de la actividad del incendio y la cantidad de recursos asignados al incendio, la complejidad del incendio Derby está disminuyendo. En respuesta, una organización de gestión de incidentes Tipo 3 asumirá oficialmente el mando del incendio Derby el sábado a las 6:00 a.m. Si bien la gestión del incendio se transferirá a otro equipo, se mantienen los recursos para la extinción. Sin embargo, se está liberando personal para garantizar que la dotación se ajuste a las necesidades operativas del incidente, manteniendo la capacidad de respuesta ante posibles cambios en las condiciones.
La reparación de supresión consiste en restaurar las áreas afectadas por la construcción de cortafuegos, áreas de estacionamiento, helipuertos y otras actividades operativas a las condiciones previas al incendio. Se utiliza equipo pesado para poner la vegetación retirada en las lÃneas de excavadoras. La reposición de vegetación ayuda a prevenir la erosión del suelo y facilita la recuperación del medio ambiente.
Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en los terrenos bajo la administración de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras del Valle del RÃo Colorado, https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions, y el Bosque Nacional White River. Consulte las alertas forestales crÃticas y de restricciones por incendios en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/. Las restricciones de incendios han bajado a la Etapa 1.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Operations Update, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Operations Section Chief Chief Nick Collard talks about today’s operations which include increasing security depth on areas around the fire and suppression repair as well.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
A Resource Advisor, or REAF, helps guide firefighting efforts so that important natural and cultural resources are protected during a wildfire. They work with incident management and crews to make sure suppression tactics are effective while also caring for the land, water, wildlife, and special places at risk. READ/REAF Morgan Wooderson explains her work here at the Derby Fire. #derbyfire #FireYear2025
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Unmanned Aviation Systems (drones), have played a key role in the Derby Fire. From checking for hot spots and heat for future operations, to ensuring crew safety, a UAS is a valuable tool in fire suppression. UAS operator Corey Landehenning explains the UAS mission.
Fire Information: 970-355-3283 Size: 5,447 Total Personnel: 526 Containment: 42% Cause: Lightning Resources: 5 Aircraft | 8 Hand Crews | 21 Engines | 7 Heavy Equipment
Current Situation:
The precipitation we received last week coupled with lower temperatures offered us an opportunity for firefighters to take suppression actions along the fire’s edge. Incident managers are taking proactive action to consider firefighter and equipment needs to most efficiently and effectively engage the fire.
Firefighters are using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) as they work in the Flat Top Wilderness Area. The crews are currently utilizing aviation assets which include unmanned aviation systems (UAS) to support all aspects of their operation.
Crews continue their work on the southeast side of the fire as they continue to construct fireline from the southeast corner up to West Fork Red Dirt Creek. As containment increases on the southern side of the fire, firefighters will focus on patrolling and mopping up isolated heat around cabins and a portion of the Ute-Sweetwater Trail. When patrolling the firelines, crews or engines are rechecking their previous work and validating there are no signs of smoke or heat that indicate the fire is still active.
On the northeastern side of the fire, crews continue to build fireline towards each other, one from the south end, and one from the north end. As crews are working, other fire personnel will follow them mopping up as they contain the fireline. Crews will utilize helicopters to transport hose, pumps, and fuel to support the firefighters’ efforts. They’ll also bring back debris from crews and spike camps, helping ensure the ground is left clean.
Weather & Fire Behavior:
High pressure has moved out of the region, allowing moisture back to the area and lower temperatures in the 70’s. Thursday will be partly cloudy with chances of isolated showers which will keep the potential for fire spread minimal.
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: https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. All unauthorized aircraft (including drones) are prohibited from flying near the fire, as they can interfere with authorized air support operations. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Derby Fire Information
Phone: 970-355-3283 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Email: 2025.Derby@firenet.gov
Actualización Diaria para el Incendio Derby – el 4 de Septiembre de 2025
Equipo 3 del Manejo de Incidentes Complejos del Ãrea de las Montañas Rocosas
Comandantes del Incidente: Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders
Información del incendio: 970-355-3283 Acres: 5,447 Personal: 526 Contención: 42% Causa: Rayos Recursos: 5 aeronaves | 8 cuadrillas | 21 camiones de bomberos | 7 equipo pesados
Situación Actual:
Las precipitaciones de la semana pasada, junto con las temperaturas más bajas, brindaron a los bomberos la oportunidad de implementar medidas de extinción en el borde del incendio. Los gestores de incidentes están tomando medidas proactivas para considerar las necesidades de los bomberos y el equipo necesario para combatir el incendio de la manera más eficiente y eficaz.
Las cuadrillas continúan trabajando en el lado sureste del incendio, construyendo una lÃnea de fuego desde la esquina sureste hasta West Fork Red Dirt Creek. A medida que aumenta la contención en el lado sur del incendio, los bomberos se centrarán en patrullar y eliminar el calor aislado alrededor de las cabañas y una parte del Ute-Sweetwater Trail. Al patrullar las lÃneas de fuego, las cuadrillas o los camiones de bomberos están revisando su trabajo previo y validando que no haya señales de humo o calor que indiquen que el incendio sigue activo.
La alta presión se ha alejado de la región, lo que permite que la humedad regrese al área y las temperaturas bajen.
Evacuaciones y cierres:
Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en los terrenos bajo la administración de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras del Valle del RÃo Colorado: https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en Bosque Nacional White River. Consulte las alertas forestales crÃticas y de restricciones por incendios en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Air Operations Update, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2025, Air Operations Branch Director Preston Burns discusses air operations tactics on the #DerbyFire.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Many types of equipment assist with wildland fire suppression, but it’s not all engines and brush trucks! Heavy equipment operator, Dean Ehmann, talks about his time on the #DerbyFire. #FireYear2025.
