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Katlyn C, Staff Reporter
Aug 22 at 10:44 AM EDT

…Current status: Lee Fire – Yesterday, resources completed chipping operations on the east flank and will continue along the southern edge of the fire. With the hot, dry and windy conditions testing containment lines yesterday, firefighters extended staffing hours to monitor and reinforce lines to prevent any spread. Today, aviation and ground crews will continue yesterday’s work of cooling down a hot spot along the fire’s edge and improving fire lines. Contingency work will resume on a fuel break adjacent to the fire’s southern edge.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A few showers will pass over the fire area this morning. More scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the afternoon, bringing chances of brief heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected this weekend with a significantly wetter period moving in the area late Sunday through Wednesday.

Read the full update HERE https://production-watchduty.s3.amazonaws.com/inbound_emails/bbfce8d3416a2a8325d9642f9c5cdae74c192630d1c776effc7503f8f9d41a34/MediaRelDailyUpdate_20250822_001004.pdf

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Lee Fire Update - Friday, August 15, 2025 from InciWeb:

Special Announcement: A community meeting for the Lee and Elk fires will be held on Saturday, August 16, at 7:00 P.M. at the Meeker High School, 550 School St, in Meeker, CO.

Important Note: The BLM has reopened a portion of public lands in Rio Blanco County while keeping other identified areas closed due to recent activity on the Lee Fire. Visit BLM Colorado Fire on Facebook for additional Info…

Current Situation: …critically low fuel moisture will continue to drive fire behavior. Conditions are expected to remain slightly below critical thresholds, with the potential for isolated torching and spotting, particularly in unburned pockets inside established containment lines. Crews will patrol and mop up any hotspots to reinforce firelines on the west side and along the Highway 13 corridor. Interior burning is anticipated to continue north of County Road 5. Heavy equipment, fire crews, and aviation resources will continue to work to hold the spot fire south of County Road 5. 

Weather & Fire Behavior: Cloud cover and a slight increase in moisture are expected, though the potential for wetting rain remains low. Temperatures will be in the lower 80s with midday west/northwest winds at 6-12 mph and gusts up to 26 mph. Dry thunderstorms may develop, bringing erratic, gusty winds and the potential for rapid changes in fire behavior...

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Adam Johnson, Reporter
Aug 15 at 12:10 PM EDT
Evacuation changes for the Lee Fire area:

ZONE 20, ZONE 25, ZONE 64, and ZONE 70 – changing to SET (Yellow) status.

ZONE 30, ZONE 33, and ZONE 34 – changing to READY (Green) status.

Highway 13 remains closed to the public — RESIDENT traffic only.

INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP: Enter your address to check status. https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=b7ed68c631e84ec5b7833e12470049c6

Residents must obtain a Rapid Tag in:

Meeker – Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, 355 4th Street
Rifle – Colorado River Fire Station 41, 1850 Railroad Ave, Rifle, CO

A Rapid Tag allows authorized access through a roadblock if you are permitted to return to your property.

YOU MUST STOP at the checkpoint and report before proceeding.

Even though the status has been lowered, stay vigilant — conditions can change quickly and there is still active fire in the area…

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Adam Johnson, Reporter
Aug 15 at 11:26 AM EDT

Morning update from Elk and Lee Fire Information:

133,841 acres, 12% containment.

crews are focusing on protecting critical values while maintaining safe operations. Highway 13 remains a priority, with crews working to secure the corridor for safe travel. Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, with erratic winds up to 30 mph and lightning that could increase fire activity and spotting.

Attached is the Operational Briefing Video, August 15, 2025, with Operations Section Chief Jeramy Dietz. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1QbdmCGRnw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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Adam Johnson, Reporter
Aug 9 at 4:05 PM EDT
Zone 70 (Garfield County) is now in "GO" status per the Interactive Evacuation Map for the Lee Fire.

Zones can be viewed on the Watch Duty map and on the Interactive map from the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office linked above.

Aug 9 at 3:48 PM EDT

Afternoon update for Lee Fire August 9, 2025:

The southeast portion of the Lee Fire is becoming more active near County Rd 60 and Highway 13 as the afternoon red flag warning weather patterns continue. Resources are in place to defend critical values and private residences. Air operations will support strategic firing operations as weather permits.

The latest evacuation information can be found here, per Elk and Lee Fire Information. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14HqbmRDa8i/?

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Adam Johnson, Reporter
Aug 9 at 2:12 PM
Hwy 13 is closed at mile-marker 4 North of Rifle, both directions, near the bowling alley due to the Lee Fire. Local residences are allowed through, per Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority.

If evacuations are ordered for Garfield County, the Parachute Rodeo Grounds (100 La Plata Circle) can hold livestock. Prepare by: Planning transportation now, bring feed, water, and medications, and have halters/leads ready, per the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.

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Geoff Havens, Reporter
Aug 9 at 12:49 PM EDT

Size:14,502 acres
Containment:8%
Total Personnel (Both Elk and Lee Fires): 1,245
Resources: 13 Aircraft, 62 Engines, 21 Hand Crews, 13 Heavy Equipment

Important Notes: All updates related to the Elk and Lee Fires will be posted at the Elk and Lee Fire Information Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AuWcXALSs/? Road closures and evacuation notices for Rio Blanco County will still be posted on the Rio Blanco Sheriff Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GU2NFeDc5/? Evacuation information for Garfield County will be posted on the Garfield County Sheriff's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fncxcabbe/?

Yesterday:

Smoke from the Lee Fire shaded the Elk Fire and reduced fire behavior allowing firefighters to further reinforce firelines. Structure protection resources continued monitoring and reinforcing around structures through the night.

Current Situation:

Firefighters will continue patrol and mop up containment lines to keep the fire from further spread. Structure protection resources will remain in place around residences and other values at risk.

Weather & Fire Behavior:

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 am. 8:00p.m. Temperatures will range in the low to mid-80's. Humidity's will fall in the low teens. Winds will shift to the north/northeast mid-morning until early evening. These weather conditions along with the dry fuels are conducive to extreme fire behavior...

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Justin Roberts, Reporter
Aug 9 at 9:04 AM EDT

Zones 80 and 81 have been added in Garfield County and placed in "Set" status per the Interactive Evacuation Map for the Lee Fire. https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=b7ed68c631e84ec5b7833e12470049c6

Zones can be viewed on the Watch Duty map and on the Interactive Evacuation Map for the Lee Fire

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Justin Roberts, Reporter
Aug 9 at 8:40 AM EDT
Zone 63 has been added and placed in Go-Evacuate Immediately status per the Interactive Evacuation Map for the Lee Fire.

Zones can be viewed on the Watch Duty map and on the Interactive Evacuation Map for the Lee Fire

Jennifer James, Staff Reporter
Aug 9 at 6:41 AM EDT
A new fire perimeter is visible on the Active Fire Perimeters map layer showing 88,877 acres per the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

Note: Fire perimeters are preliminary and indicate general burn area but do not reflect structure protection efforts by firefighters. A structure within a fire perimeter may not be damaged or destroyed.

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Adam Johnson, Reporter
Aug 7 at 10:40 PM

Zones 60, 61, 62, and 64, southeast of the fire along CR 5 and Hwy 14, are now under Ready status, per Rio Blanco County's Evacuation Map. The parameters of these zones are viewable on the Watch Duty map and Rio Blanco County’s Evacuation Map. https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=b7ed68c631e84ec5b7833e12470049c6

There were gusts up to 40 mph in the fire area today, causing some increase in both fire behavior and smoke.

The Lee Fire was active today on both the south and north edges, generating significant smoke. On the north side, the fire made a push toward Hwy 64, but it has NOT crossed the road. Firefighters performed strategic burning operations to keep the fire south of Hwy 64.

A fully staffed night shift will be monitoring the fire overnight.

Tomorrow will be another RED FLAG WARNING day, with significant wind expected across the fire area. per the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office.

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