Rio Blanco County officials lifted some mandatory evacuation and pre-evacuation orders Friday afternoon for the Elk and Lee fires burning near the Western Slope town of Meeker.
The sheriff’s office moved the town of 2,400 people from a “set” or yellow pre-evacuation status to a “ready” or green status at 12:20 p.m.
Mandatory evacuations for people living in five zones near both fires were downgraded to pre-evacuation, and folks will be able to return home after getting access credentials by showing proof of residence at the sheriff’s office.
Areas still under mandatory evacuation include the Colorado 13 corridor from Colorado 64 to the north and Fourteenmile Creek to the south, including along Flag Creek, Fourteenmile Ridge and the east end of Hay Gulch. Updated are available online.
More than 500 people are fighting the Elk and Lee fires surrounding the Rio Blanco County town in northwest Colorado. The Lee fire is burning on 58,714 acres west of Meeker while the Elk fire has charred 14,518 acres to the east, according to an updated assessment Friday morning.
Red flag conditions — including warm temperatures, gusty winds, and critically low humidity — will continue Friday and last through at least Saturday, fire officials said.
“Extreme fire behavior is expected to continue, especially in the afternoon, potentially causing large fire growth,” fire crews said in a .
Eric Coulter, a Bureau of Land Management spokesperson, said the fire didn’t actually grow overnight Thursday, but crews were able to get a more accurate reading of its scope. The fire did not get any closer to Meeker, he said.
Gov. Jared Polis mobilized the Colorado National Guard late Wednesday as extremely dry conditions and wind fueled growth on both fires.
Wildfires burning across the country have made it difficult to compete for resources, and two National Guard helicopters with support personnel are joining the action on the Lee and Elk fires Friday morning, officials said.
Polis verbally issued a disaster declaration on Sunday for the Elk fire. He to include the Lee fire.
Jump to: Lee and Elk fires Stoner Mesa fire | Twelve fire | Windy Gap fire | Statewide impacts
The Lee and Elk fires near Meeker
Twin wildfires burning east and west of Meeker have consumed more than 117 square miles since they were sparked by lightning Saturday afternoon, spurred by extremely dry conditions, wind and warm temperatures and forcing evacuations and closing highways near the town.
The 58,714-acre is now the largest wildfire burning in Colorado. The fire was only 700 acres on Sunday afternoon and was mapped at 22,497 acres on Wednesday before doubling in size.
Roughly 11 miles east, the Elk fire grew roughly 6,000 acres on Wednesday, scorching a total of 14,518 acres with no containment, according to fire officials. Just days earlier, on Sunday, it had only burned 600 acres.
Meeker is about 70 miles northwest of Glenwood Springs and 40 miles north of Interstate 70.
Strong winds with hot, dry conditions caused increased activity on the Lee and Elk fires Thursday, officials said in the Friday update. Crews worked to prevent the Lee fire from spreading over the Colorado 64 highway and will continue that work Friday.
In a , Operations Section Chief Jeramy Dietz said firefighters had a lot of success on Thursday keeping the fires from jumping highways and county roads used as containment lines.
are expected to peak on Friday, with temperatures in the 80s, humidity as low as 6% and wind gusts up to 45 mph, fire officials said in an update.
Fire crews will focus on strategic burning to protect the Colorado 64 corridor and building containment lines along the southern edge of the Lee fire to prepare for shifting winds and protect oil, gas and power infrastructure in the area.
The Colorado 13 corridor south of Meeker is still under mandatory evacuation, and most adjacent areas are on pre-evacuation status and should be prepared to leave. .
Fire officials reopened Colorado 64 west of Meeker on Friday, but sheriff’s officials warned it could close again with little notice if fire conditions change. Colorado 13 southwest of Meeker is closed in both directions for firefighting operations.
The Stoner Mesa fire in San Juan National Forest
The lightning-sparked wildfire burning in a remote section of the San Juan National Forest grew to 1,142 acres on Friday and closed parts of the southwestern Colorado forest, .
The uncontained is burning about 20 miles northeast of Dolores in an “extremely difficult-to-access area” of the national forest. The closest town is Rico, about 6 miles to the east, with around 300 people.
Weather conditions will allow for large fire growth in the coming days, and fire crews are planning to focus on protecting homes and structures along Dolores County Road 38.
The fire is moving east but has several natural barriers that will slow it down, including Anchor Mountain, Operations Section Chief Nate Christiansen said in an
Dolores County officials issued evacuation orders for parts of the forest on Stoner and Taylor Mesa, including:
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- Stoner Mesa Road, also known as Forest Service Road 686.
- Taylor Mesa Road, also known as Forest Service Road 545.
- All roads branching off the two Forest Service Roads.
- Mavreeso Campground.
- Burro Bridge Campground.
- West Dolores Campground.
The Twelve fire in Moffat County
A fourth wildfire is burning near Elk Springs in Moffat County, about 50 miles west of Craig, sheriff’s officials said Wednesday.
The Twelve fire sparked at about 3 p.m. Wednesday and grew to 1,000 acres in less than five hours. Fire officials estimate it is burning on 4,287 acres of private, state and federal land as of Friday morning. The fire was 35% contained Friday afternoon, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
No homes have been lost, but sheriff’s officials said two outbuildings were destroyed Wednesday night.
U.S. 40 was temporarily closed between Blue Mountain and Lowell Street in Maybell for the fire, but the highway reopened early Thursday morning, . Deer Lodge Road remains closed.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.
Windy Gap fire in Grand County
Grand County officials lifted pre-evacuation orders near Lake Granby and Hot Sulfur Springs on Friday as crews held of growth on the 30-acre Windy Gap fire, which is now 40% contained.
County officials initially declared a local disaster emergency for a wildfire burning near Granby that has destroyed five cabins.
“There is imminent threat that Grand County could suffer from widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from the Windy Gap fire,” a passed Thursday by the stated.
The cost and magnitude of responding to and recovering from the fire “is far in excess” of the county’s available resources, according to the resolution.
Wildfire smoke, red flag warning causes statewide impacts
An is in effect for Moffat, Routt, Grand, Rio Blanco, Jackson and Dolores counties as four active wildfires send smoke across the state.
The advisory was issued at 9 a.m. Friday and will remain active through at least 9 a.m. Saturday.
If smoke becomes thick, residents may want to remain indoors, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, especially those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses and those who are very young or older adults.
“If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy,” state health officials said in the advisory.
Most of Colorado’s Western Slope and parts of the Front Range mountains and foothills are under a until 8 p.m. because of critical fire weather, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts up to 45 mph and humidity as low as 12% could cause “extreme fire behaivor.”
“Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread,” forecasters said. “Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.”
