White River National Forest

Derby Fire: White River National Forest reduces closure

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White River National Forest

Derby Fire news release – English
Derby Fire news release – Spanish
Derby Fire area closure

Beginning today, the White River National Forest will reduce the public closure in the vicinity of the Derby Fire Colorado following several days of rain.

While the recent rainfall has reduced fire activity and provided much-needed assistance with fire suppression efforts, emergency managers are now closely monitoring for potential flooding and flash flooding in the burn area and surrounding communities. Forest visitors should stay aware of changing conditions, follow guidance from local authorities, and use caution when traveling through the area.

The new Forest Order reduces the Forest Closure to the area northeast of Sweetwater Lake continuing along the Derby Mesa Rim. A map and detailed description of the closure, including affected roads and trails, are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.

8-27-25 White River National Forest map

The latest information about the Derby Fire is available at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire and https://www.facebook.com/DerbyFire.

Currently the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District remains under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, meaning no campfires are allowed anywhere in the District, among other restrictions. Fire managers will continue to monitor conditions and evaluate fire restrictions with local partners. For more information about fire restrictions on the White River National Forest, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.  

Comunicado de prensa del Servicio Forestal

Contacto: Iris Salamanca, Oficial de Asuntos Públicos

iris.salamanca@usda.gov 

El Bosque Nacional White River reduce el cierre del incendio Derby

Cierre en su lugar para proteger a los bomberos y la seguridad pública

EAGLE, Colo. (26 de agosto de 2025) – El Bosque Nacional White River reducirá el cierre público en las cercanías del incendio Derby luego de varios días de lluvia a partir de mañana.

Mientras que las lluvias recientes han reducido la actividad de los incendios y han brindado una asistencia muy necesaria con los esfuerzos de extinción de incendios, los administradores de emergencias ahora están monitoreando de cerca posibles inundaciones e inundaciones repentinas en el área quemada y las comunidades circundantes. Los visitantes del bosque deben estar al tanto de las condiciones cambiantes, seguir las instrucciones de las autoridades locales y tener cuidado al viajar por el área.

La nueva Orden Forestal reduce el Cierre del Bosque al área noreste del Lago Sweetwater que continúa a lo largo del Derby Mesa Rim. Un mapa y una descripción detallada del cierre, incluidas las carreteras y senderos afectados, están disponibles en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.  

La información más reciente sobre el incendio de Derby está disponible en https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cowrf-derby-fire y https://www.facebook.com/DerbyFire.

Actualmente, el Distrito de Guardabosques de Eagle-Holy Cross permanece bajo restricciones de incendios de Etapa 2, lo que significa que no se permiten fogatas en ningún lugar del Distrito, entre otras restricciones. Los administradores de incendios continuarán monitoreando las condiciones y evaluando las restricciones de incendios con socios locales. Para obtener más información sobre las restricciones de incendios en el Bosque Nacional White River, visite https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.  

Derby Fire: White River National Forest reduces closure

WRNF: Forest Order for Derby Fire expands closure

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White River National Forest

U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest has expanded their public closure in the vicinity of the #DerbyFire for firefighter and public safety.

The new Forest Order expands the closure to the southwest, including the area from southwest of Sweetwater Lake to the west rim of Deep Creek Canyon.

8-23-25-USFS forest closure area

The entire White River National Forest remains under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, meaning no campfires are allowed anywhere on the Forest, among other restrictions.

WRNF: Forest Order for Derby Fire expands closure

Derby Fire: morning update

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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.

A map of the Derby Fire.

Derby Fire Official Information

FACEBOOK – Derby fire @derbyfire
INCIWEB – Derby Fire
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST – facebook.com/whiteriverNF @whiteriverNF
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EAGLE COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts
INCIDENT UPDATES – EC Emergency or Reachwell app
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso@eaglecountyso
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GARFIELD COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts or Reachwell app
INCIDENT UPDATES / SUBSCRIBE – Garfield County emergency
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff @garcosheriff

Derby Fire: actualización matutina

Actualización de esta mañana del Equipo de Gestión de Incidentes 3 del Complejo de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte Información sobre el incendio de Derby Teléfono público: (970) 355-3282 Horario de oficina: 8:00 a. m. a 8:00 p. m. 2025.derby@firenet.gov 20 de agosto de 2025, 1:03 p. m. – Equipo de Gestión de Incidentes 3 del Complejo de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante del incidente: Mike Behrens Ubicación: 21 kilómetros al oeste de Dotsero, Colorado Fecha de inicio: 16/8/2025 Causa: Rayo Superficie: 839 acres aprox. Finalización/contención: 0 % Personal total estimado: 80 personas; 6 camiones cisterna; 1 helicóptero; 2 cuadrillas de mano

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.

ESTADO ACTUAL:
El Equipo de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos, encargado del incendio Turner Gulch, asumió el mando del incendio Derby esta mañana. El incendio Derby experimentó un crecimiento significativo durante la noche. La evaluación de la estructura y el reconocimiento del área serán las principales tareas de los responsables del incendio hoy, determinando la mejor estrategia para combatir el incendio con la mayor probabilidad de éxito, garantizando al mismo tiempo la seguridad de los bomberos. La ubicación remota dificulta mucho el acceso.

CLIMA Y COMPORTAMIENTO DEL INCENDIO
Varios días 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 podría producir vientos de salida erráticos, aumentando las tasas de propagación en los bosques de abetos subalpinos y pinos lodgepole.

CIERRES Y MENSAJES ESPECIALES
El Condado de Eagle ha emitido un aviso de evacuación indicando que los residentes de Sweetwater Rd y las áreas de Colorado River Rd, desde Sweetwater hasta Red Dirt Creek, deben abandonar sus hogares antes del mediodía del miércoles 20 de agosto. Derby Mesa Loop permanece en estado de preevacuación. El aviso de preevacuación y otra información sobre el incendio Derby están disponibles en www.ecemergency.org. El Bosque Nacional White River ha emitido un cierre público para la seguridad de los bomberos y el público en los condados de Eagle y Garfield, en las cercanías del incendio. El cierre se aplica a los distritos de guardabosques de Blanco y Eagle-Holy Cross. La orden de cierre y el mapa están publicados en www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver. También se publicará información específica de cierre y mapas en InciWeb en https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire a medida que se implementen.

Derby Fire: morning update

Derby Fire: Public closure in Eagle and Garfield counties in the vicinity of the Derby Fire

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U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest

TEMPORARY AREA CLOSURE ORDER USDA FOREST SERVICE
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS RESTRICTION
EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT

For the protection of health and safety to the public pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited within the White River National Forest, Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts, Eagle and Garfield counties, in the State of Colorado.

The restricted area is further defined as the area on National Forest System lands within the Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts located, starting north of Sweetwater Lake, following the Forest boundary north and east to the intersection of the Derby Loop Road (Eagle County Road 39). Then follow Middle Derby Creek generally northwest to Island Lakes. Then, generally south following the Island Lakes Trail (#1842), the W Mountain Trail (#1817), the Turret-Crescent Trail (#2269) and the Turret Creek Trail (#1838) back to Sweetwater Lake. 

The following roads are located within the closure: National Forest System Roads 609.1; 611.1; 611.2A; 611.2B; 613.1; 613.1A; 616.1.

The following trails are located within the closure: Nellies (#1839); Johnny Meyers (#2067); Ute-Sweetwater (#2032); South W (#2060); W Mountain Trail (#1817) between Big Spring and Turret-Crescent Trail (#2269); Roberts Trail (#2076).

The attached map (Appendix A) shows the area of temporary closure order.

PROHIBITIONS:

  1. Going into or occupying the temporary area closure within the National Forest System lands until order closure order is rescinded. See Attached Map. 36 C.F.R. 261.53(e)

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

  1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty;
  2. Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. 

This order shall remain in effect until rescinded or until December 31, 2025, whichever event occurs first.

Done at Glenwood Springs, this 19th day of August 2025

FACEBOOK – Derby fire @derbyfire
INCIWEB – Derby Fire
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST – facebook.com/whiteriverNF @whiteriverNF
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EAGLE COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts
INCIDENT UPDATES – EC Emergency or Reachwell app
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso@eaglecountyso
________________

GARFIELD COUNTY INFO
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts or Reachwell app
INCIDENT UPDATES / SUBSCRIBE – Garfield County emergency
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff @garcosheriff

Derby Fire: Public closure in Eagle and Garfield counties in the vicinity of the Derby Fire