Colorado’s fifth-largest wildfire on record is 90% contained as rain showers and thunderstorms continue across the Western Slope, fire officials said.
As of Monday morning, the had consumed 137,758 acres, equal to roughly 215 square miles. The burn area is just two acres short of Colorado’s fourth-largest wildfire on record — the 137,760-acre Hayman fire that sparked in 2002.
Other wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope have scorched thousands of additional acres. Fire officials across the state have said hot, dry and windy conditions fueled the flames’ rapid growth.
Storms have brought much-needed rain to the drought-stricken Western Slope, . But those storms also increase the risk of lightning and strong winds — weather that can start fires and fan the flames of those already burning.
Jump to: Lee and Elk fires | Derby fire Stoner Mesa fire | Air quality impacts
Lee and Elk fires, near Meeker
Growth on the largest wildfire burning in Colorado — the fifth-largest ever recorded in the state — has slowed over the past week as firefighters increase containment around the flames.
As of Monday morning, the 137,758-acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle was 90% contained, .
The New York Fire Department Incident Management Team took over command of fighting the Lee fire from the Northern Rockies Team One on Monday morning.
“The fire has now been organized into two divisions, east and west, to better coordinate resources and operations,” said incoming Incident Commander Mike Izzo in a . Efforts are now shifting to mitigation and limiting future damage in the burn scar areas.
All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, and on Monday afternoon zones in the pre-evacuation or yellow status were downgraded to ready or green status. An updated for Rio Blanco and Garfield counties is available online.
The Lee fire and nearby Elk fire, which consumed more than 14,500 acres before reaching full containment last week, have together destroyed at least five homes and 14 outbuildings, fire officials said. Izzo said supervision of the Elk fire burn area has been returned to local agencies.
Extreme drought, high temperatures and strong winds fueled rapid growth on both fires, which were sparked by lightning west and east of Meeker on Aug. 2.
Rain showers and cooler temperatures helped mitigate the flames last week, which allowed firefighters to steadily increase containment. More showers and thunderstorms are expected in the days ahead as Colorado braces for a monsoonal weather system.
Rain showers and thunderstorms are most likely near and between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Chances of precipitation range from 30% to 50%, forecasters said.
Chances of rain greatly increase later this week in both areas, jumping to 90% Tuesday afternoon and remaining there until 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to .
While the rain is helpful, afternoon thunderstorms also increase the risk of gusty winds, frequent lightning and flash flooding along burn scars, fire officials said. Flash flood warnings remain in effect Monday evening for the Elk, Lee and Crosho fire zones, according to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff.
Road closures tied to the smaller Crosho fire near Yampa were lifted Monday afternoon. That fire has burned 2,073 acres and is 81% contained.
Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Lee fire burn area on Sunday afternoon, creating debris flow which blocked Piceance Creek Road, officials said in a .
Derby fire, in Eagle County
A wildfire burning on the edge of Eagle and Garfield counties has scorched more than 5,300 acres, fire officials said Monday.
The is burning on 5,346 acres with no containment, up roughly 100 acres from Sunday and 1,200 acres from Saturday, fire officials said.
“We have totally changed the pattern from hot and dry,” said meteorologist Ryan Fliehman in a . “I’m afraid we might get too much rain. We are still having chances of precipitation six days out.”
Firefighting crews have had success along much of the fire’s southern border, especially in the fire’s center or “belly,” said Ben Patton, operations chief. Rain has forced some crews fighting close in to pull back and crews are taking extra care to avoid damaging dirt roads, which have turned muddy.
Some firefighting lines could turn black, indicating containment within the next 24 hours, Patton predicted.
The storms will help dampen the quickly spreading wildfire but may create other problems on the newly charred landscape, like flash flooding, fire officials said.
The Derby fire was discovered on “remote, rugged terrain” in the White River National Forest, about 15 miles from Dotsero in Eagle County, on Aug. 17, .
It differs from the others burning in Colorado in that it started at higher elevations and has tried to push downhill at night.
Mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuations are in place for the northwest corner of Eagle County, including the town of Gypsum, and an eastern section of Garfield County.
Evacuations were lifted for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek at 10 a.m. Monday, allowing limited access for residents to return home, . Those who need to access Sweetwater Valley and Colorado River Road are being asked to limit their driving to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to avoid disrupting emergency operations, Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek requested Monday evening.
“Please, we’re asking you, don’t touch anything. Don’t drive over the top of anything,” Van Beek requested of those returning to their homes. Red Dirt Creek Road remains closed.
Updated are available online.
At least one building has been destroyed by the wildfire, but it’s unclear what type of building it was.
The U.S. Forest Service also expanded closures in the in Eagle and Garfield counties, including southwest of Sweetwater Lake to the west rim of Deep Creek Canyon. Some , including north and west of Gypsum, north of Coffee Pot Road, west of the Colorado River, east of the White River National Forest boundary and south of Derby Creek.
Stoner Mesa fire, near Dolores
The is burning on 10,233 acres in a remote section of the San Juan National Forest, fire officials said Sunday.
Multiple areas around the fire — including Mavreeso, Gobble Creek, Fish Creek, Johnny Bull Creek, Dunton, Lizard Head, Horse Creek, Rico and Sulfer Creek — remain on “monitor” status, the step before pre-evacuation orders, .
All pre-evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, but sections of the remain closed for the wildfire.
As of Monday, the lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa fire was 41% contained.
Air-quality impacts
near the Derby and Stoner Mesa fires were issued Sunday morning by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The warnings, which include southeastern Dolores County, northeastern Montezuma County, western Eagle County and eastern Garfield County, will remain active through at least 9 a.m. Monday.
Smoke will be heaviest in the areas near the fires, especially during the overnight and early morning hours, state health officials said. Incoming storm systems should help improve air quality near the fires.
Smoky conditions are most hazardous for young children, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory illnesses, according to state health officials.
