A house fire in western Jefferson County started a small wildfire Thursday morning, causing pre-evacuation warnings for people living in Golden Gate Canyon after flames spread to nearby trees and grass.
The Geneva fire burned less than an acre after it was first reported in the 10600 block of Ralston Creek Road at 11:35 a.m., according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Jefferson and Gilpin county officials sent out pre-evacuation warnings for a 3-mile radius around the fire and for homes in Golden Gate Estates, Braecher Ranchettes and the surrounding area.
The fire also briefly caused evacuations for the southern part of Golden Gate Canyon State Park and visitor center, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said in an email to The Denver Post.
Fire crews stopped forward progress on the fire by 12:34 p.m., and county officials lifted pre-evacuations for the surrounding area just after 1 p.m.
The Geneva fire was fully contained as of Thursday afternoon, according to the wildfire dispatch program WildCAD.
The trash truck dropped “a hot load” at an unspecified location south of Franktown, which sparked the 1,081-acre Dahlberg fire, according to an update from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The update did not specify why the truck dropped the load.
Dry vegetation and up to 20 mph winds allowed the flames to spread quickly, county officials said. The fire was first reported near Dahlberg and Lake Gulch roads at 12:39 p.m. Tuesday, roughly 8 miles south of Franktown and 8 miles east of Larkspur.
More than a dozen homes and the nearby Cherry Valley Elementary School were evacuated, but no property damage was reported and residents were able to safely return home, sheriff’s officials said.
The fire was fully contained Tuesday evening, sheriff’s officials said in a 4:54 p.m. post on social media. Crews remained on scene overnight to mop up hotspots and ensure high winds didn’t rekindle the flames.
A second day of powerful, gusty winds hit the Front Range and Eastern Plains on Wednesday, fueling at least two wildfires in metro Denver and northeastern Colorado and snarling travel at Denver International Airport.
More than 100 firefighters from across the metro area responded to a grass fire that sparked at 11:30 a.m. near Pinnacle Charter High School, 8412 Huron St. in Thornton.
The fire burned across 10 acres of dry, grassy fields and charred vehicles as it produced billows of black smoke visible across the Denver area. Smoke reduced visibility on Interstate 25 to the point that state transportation officials closed the highway in both directions for more than an hour.
Four firefighters and one other person were injured by the fire, Thornton Fire Chief Stephen Kelley said at a briefing at City Hall. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, but no further information on the nature or severity of the injuries was available, Kelley said.
Police officers went door to door Wednesday afternoon to evacuate people after the fire started, and city officials sent out evacuation notices through the statewide Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, Kelley said. Pinnacle Charter High School and several nearby businesses also were evacuated.
Thornton is in the process of switching to a different city emergency alert system and does not have one in place currently, Kelley said.
City leaders could not say how many homes were evacuated and did not provide a map of affected neighborhoods, although officials confirmed most evacuations occurred northeast of the fire.
Flames burned for more than two hours before fire crews gained full containment at 2:07 p.m. Thornton officials lifted evacuations at 3:30 p.m. Kelley said firefighters were to remain in the area overnight to put out hot spots and prevent the fire from rekindling. Continued road closures were likely because of firefighting activity, he said.
No homes were destroyed by the fire, which started on a greenbelt between a residential neighborhood and businesses, Kelley said. The cause of the fire is under investigation and crews are evaluating fire damage to businesses. Although none of the businesses’ buildings appear to be damaged, rows of cars in nearby lots were burned.
“It is our intent to get ahead of these fires so we don’t have the spread … experienced during the Marshall fire,” Kelley said. “I think we’re very fortunate today that we did not have an outcome similar.”
A firefighter rakes smoldering wood chips in an outdoor exercise area where the Huron Fire burned on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, near West 84th Avenue and Huron Street in Thornton, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
High winds fueled the fire’s “rapid spread” as most of the Front Range and Eastern Plains remained under a red flag warning, Kelley said.
“These are conditions that we continue to face on a daily basis here on the Front Range,” he said.
Grass fire that sparked near Pinnacle Charter High School, 8412 Huron Street in Thornton, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. The fire prompted evacuations at the high school and nearby businesses and closed lanes of Interstate 25. (Courtesy of Thornton Fire Department via X.com)
More than 3,000 Xcel Energy customers lost power because of the fire on Wednesday afternoon, but most outages were resolved by the evening, according to the utility’s outage map.
A grass fire burning near 84th Avenue and Huron Street in Thornton forced evacuations of Pinnacle Charter High School and nearby businesses on Feb. 25, 2026. (Courtesy of the Thornton Police Department)
A second wildfire charred at least an estimated 3,500 acres of grassland in Logan County on Wednesday afternoon, threatening the small town of Padroni and forcing the population of about two dozen residents to evacuate.
The fire was started by a crash on Colorado 113 near Logan County Road 66 at 1:20 p.m. and spread quickly as wind gusts reached 50 mph, emergency officials said.
Logan County officials ordered evacuations between County Road 66 south to Colorado 138 and Colorado 113 east to County Road 65, including Padroni, Peetz, Iliff and the Caliche School.
Fire crews gained 80% containment as of 4:26 p.m., allowing county officials to lift evacuation orders, emergency management officials said on Facebook.
State and local agencies responded to fight the fire, including two air tankers and several farmers with tractors. No damage to structures or injuries to people or livestock was reported, Logan County officials said.
Wind-related problems extended to the skies Wednesday, when the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground delay at Denver International Airport because of the weather, delaying nearly 900 flights as gusts peaked at 55 mph.
United Airlines reported 316 delays and four cancellations as of Wednesday night. Southwest had 254 delays, and SkyWest had 218 delays and one canceled flight, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.
High winds may continue to plague Colorado through Friday, although forecasters are not confident about what the next few days will bring, National Weather Service officials said Wednesday night.
Uncertain wind conditions and borderline low humidity levels are enough for forecasters to continue a fire weather watch for communities along the I-25 corridor and the Eastern Plains, forecasters wrote.
A watch means conditions are “favorable for rapid fire spread,” and people should avoid outdoor burning or any activity that produces a spark, according to the agency.
Residents in a small town on Colorado’s Eastern Plains were ordered to evacuate Wednesday afternoon after a grass fire sparked from a vehicle crash nearby, fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation, according to fire officials.
The fire burned between 3,500 to 4,000 acres and drew responses from departments in eastern Colorado and Nebraska.
The fire ignited at roughly 1:20 p.m. near the intersection of Colorado 113 and Logan County Road 66, according to a news release from the Logan County Office of Emergency Management. Winds at that time were between 25 and 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, driving the fire through rough, dry terrain.
The fire was 80% contained as of 4:26 p.m., the release stated.
The first orders were issued just before 2 p.m. Wednesday for the town of Padroni, home to roughly two dozen people in northeast Colorado, according to the Sterling Fire Department. The town is about 11 miles north of Sterling.
By 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the evacuation zone had expanded to include parts of Peetz and Iliff, according to the Logan Office of Emergency Management. The zone included residents along Colorado 113 between County Road 62 and County Road 67.5, and in the area south to U.S. 138, according to the office.
Colorado 113 in Logan County reopened between County Road 56 north of Padroni and County Road 74 in Peetz as of 3:59 p.m., according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The closure, from milemarker 9 to 16, was caused by fire activity, according to the agency.
A wildfire scorched more than 1,000 acres of dry, grassy terrain south of Franktown on Tuesday, forcing evacuations as gusty winds pushed flames toward nearby homes.
The Dahlberg fire was first reported near Dahlberg and Lake Gulch roads at 12:39 p.m., Douglas County sheriff’s officials said. The area is roughly 8 miles south of Franktown and 8 miles east of Larkspur.
Tinder-dry fuels, drought and winds up to 20 mph allowed the fire to grow quickly, county Emergency Management Director Mike Alexander said at a briefing.
Douglas County sheriff’s deputies began evacuating nearby homes immediately, Patrol Division Chief Joel White said. Deputies contacted 20 homes threatened by the fire, and 17 of those evacuated, he said.
The nearby Cherry Valley Elementary School was ordered to hold students in place and released them from school early so parents and guardians could pick up their children, White said. The school was fully evacuated as of 4 p.m.
Firefighters from across metro Denver, including an air tanker from Colorado Springs and a helicopter from Broomfield, responded to the scene and gained full containment on the 1,081-acre fire just before 5 p.m., sheriff’s officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and no building or property damage was reported.
Dahlberg Road remained closed on Tuesday night for firefighting operations.
High winds also impacted operations at Denver International Airport on Tuesday, with the Federal Aviation Administration ordering a ground stop and airlines delaying 385 flights and canceling 25 flights as of 6 p.m.
Gusty winds are expected to return to the region on Wednesday, and most of the Front Range and Eastern Plains will be under a red flag warning for critical fire weather conditions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Sustained winds up to 35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph are possible, forecasters said, and people should avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark.
A Silver Plume house fire that sparked Sunday afternoon quickly spread to the nearby brush along Interstate 70, according to Clear Creek County officials.
No one was injured in the house fire, but the home was engulfed in flames, Clear Creek County officials said in a 3:40 p.m. statement on social media. Drivers were able to see the flames from I-70 and called 911.
Less than 20 minutes later, the flames had spread to the nearby wilderness and more units were called in to respond to the growing brush fire on the north side of the highway, county officials said.
A grass fire at the entrance of Coal Creek Canyon in Arvada burned more than 100 acres, prompted pre-evacuation warnings and closed two state highways on Saturday.
The Candelas neighborhood was under a pre-evacuation warning for several hours after the Plainview fire sparked near Colorado 93 and Colorado 72 at 8:35 am., Arvada Fire Rescue spokesperson Brady Johnson said.
The fire, which charred an estimated 130 acres, was mostly contained by 10 a.m. fire officials said. Law enforcement lifted pre-evacuation orders at 11:40 a.m. at reopened Colorado 93 and Colorado 72 just before 1 p.m.
No one was injured and no structures were threatened by the fire, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Plainview Fire is at 80% containment and does not appear to be related to the train tracks. Great team work from @ArvadaFire, @ArvadaPolice, @boulder_fire, Boulder Open Space, Coal Creek Fire & @ColoradoDOT. Please avoid the area due to the ongoing fire suppression efforts… pic.twitter.com/zGB2jVQeO3
The fire was largely boxed in on the northwest side of the two highways, Johnson said. The cause of the fire is under investigation and does not appear to be related to the nearby railroad tracks, according to the sheriff’s office.
The fire was reported near the intersection of Colorado 59 and I-76, just before 6 p.m., the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.
“The wildfire at Interstate 76 and Highway 59 has been knocked down, and fire crews from multiple agencies have successfully contained the blaze,” sheriff’s officials said. “We are now in the final mop-up stages.”
Colorado’s Eastern Plains are currently under a red flag warning for extreme fire danger from high winds and low humidity, according to the National Weather Service.
Teller County officials lifted pre-evacuation warnings for a 5-acre brush fire burning between Florissant and Divide on Friday, according to the sheriff’s office.
The pre-evacuation warning for the Highland Lakes subdivision and people living north of U.S. 24 between Cougar Canyon Point and Lower Twin Rocks Road was lifted at 5:15 p.m.
The fire is burning north of U.S. 24 halfway between Florissant and Divide, the sheriff’s office said. The cause of the fire has not been determined, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s fire dashboard.
A fire sparked Thursday in eastern El Paso County briefly evacuated nearby residents before it was fully contained, the sheriff’s office said
The Big Springs fire consumed 82 acres near 31415 Big Springs Road — north of Yoder and about 35 miles east of Colorado Springs — before fire crews gained full containment as of 1:41 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued at 12:30 p.m. for residents in the area. Sheriff’s officials downgraded the area to pre-evacuation status 30 minutes later.
Additional information about the fire, including the cause, was not immediately available Thursday.
Marshall fire victims who joined the massive lawsuit against Xcel Energy are expected to receive their portion of the $640 million settlement before the end of the year, but the amount of money each plaintiff receives will not be publicly disclosed.
Xcel and plaintiffs’ attorneys announced the settlement Wednesday, just one day before the start of jury selection in a two-month civil trial to determine blame for the 2021 wildfire that killed two people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County.
The full terms of the settlement will not be released, though private corporations involved in the litigation may need to disclose their payouts to shareholders. The individual homeowners who participated in the lawsuit will be required to sign nondisclosure agreements, said Paul Starita, a lawyer at Singleton Schreiber, one of the firms that represented homeowners.
Not every person or company among the more than 4,000 plaintiffs will receive the same amount of money, Stirata said. The amount each receives will depend on the level of damages.
Plaintiffs whose houses burned to the ground would be in line to receive more money than people who suffered smoke and soot damage, he said. People who rented housing or owned rental properties were also parties to the lawsuit, as were some people who only evacuated and sued for the nuisance. And claims involving deaths would be compensated with a higher amount.
Attorneys figured out months ago what percentage of any settlement or jury award each plaintiff should receive, because those dollar figures were part of the mediation and settlement negotiations, Stirata said.
“You add up all of those figures and the defendant pays you that lump sum and you give that to your clients,” he said. “It’s a fair settlement.”
Payments should start being distributed within 60 days and be complete by the end of the year, Stirata said.
The lawyers will also get a cut of the settlement as their payment for taking on the case. Each firm sets its own fee for the clients it accepted, Sirata said. He declined to reveal what percentage Singleton Schreiber will receive.
A large chunk of the settlement will go to the 200 insurance companies that sued Xcel to compensate for the massive property damage claims they paid in the fire’s aftermath. In a legal filing ahead of the trial, those insurance firms said they suffered $1.7 billion in losses. It is not known what settlement amount they agreed to.
The Target Corporation was a plaintiff as well because its store in Superior was closed for months due to fire damage. The city of Boulder, Boulder County and the Boulder Valley School District were also plaintiffs.
The fire ignited first on the property of the Twelve Tribes religious cult, which has a compound on Eldorado Drive, near the Marshall Mesa Open Space. That ignition was caused by smoldering embers left over from a Dec. 24 burn-pit fire on the property.
The Mountain View Fire Protection District and Boulder County sheriff’s deputies responded when neighbors reported the fire, and the cult members extinguished the blaze by burying it with dirt. However, strong winds on Dec. 30 uncovered the smoldering embers and sent them flying into dry grasses and brush.
A second ignition occurred about an hour and 20 minutes later when wires and electrical equipment from an Xcel utility pole became unmoored, clashed into each other and threw sparks into dry grass at the trailhead, an investigation by the Boulder County district attorney and sheriff’s offices found.
In the settlement, Xcel did not admit fault or negligence for the fire and continues to deny that its equipment ignited the Marshall fire.
The Twelve Tribes was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Stirata said that’s because “we didn’t see them as an entity you could recover (money) from.” The cult also would have been able to claim it was given the OK by the fire department on Dec. 24, he said.
The various lawyers will appear before Judge Christopher Zenisek on Nov. 5 to provide an update on the settlement.
ARVADA, Colo. — Evacuation orders issued for residents south of Welton Reservoir in northwest Arvada were lifted after firefighters gained full containment of a 12-acre brush fire that ignited in the area Thursday afternoon.
Residents off W. 84th Place at Quaker Circle and Quartz Street were ordered to evacuate shortly after 1 p.m. while homes along Leyden Ranch from Orion Way to Moss Circle were advised to prepare for potential evacuation, according to Arvada police.
Fire officials said in a news conference Arvada firefighters were first alerted to the blaze at round 12:34 p.m. Crews arrived at the scene 6 minutes later.
Light winds helped the fire from exploding in size, a spokesperson said.
By about 1:46 p.m., Arvada police said in an update that fire officials had full containment of the blaze.
Mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuation notices were lifted just before 2:30 p.m.
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Burnout has become an issue for firefighters on the front lines of Colorado’s wildfires this summer, according to officials.
A new report from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control shows a shortage of resources in departments across the state, forcing current crews to work longer hours.
“We’re going to do everything we can to protect our communities,” DFPC Section Chief Lisa Pine said. “Burnout is a real issue for the firefighters. With not having somebody there to replace them, or, you know, to get more time off, it’s a tough job, and it does take a toll on people when they don’t get enough down time.”
The report found Colorado fire departments need over 2,000 firefighters and more than $25 million in equipment over the next two years to meet current needs.
To fill the gap, Pine said Colorado has brought in crews from other states and federal wildland firefighting teams. She said there is currently around a 50/50 split.
“What we we’re concerned about is if everything in the West, Oregon, Washington, California; if everything was burning at the same time, then yes, we probably would struggle a little bit with some of our resources from out of state,” Pine said. “However, that didn’t happen, luckily, and so what we’ve got is a really strong presence to deal with these fires.”
Firefighters facing burnout as Colorado wildfires continue to grow to historic size to historic size
Pine added there are a similar number of resources now as there were in 2020. However then, there was not as much of a shortage as the historic Pine Gulch Fire became Colorado’s third-largest ever.
Pine said the question moving forward is funding.
More than 80% of Colorado’s wildland firefighting efforts comes from property and sales tax — both of which are lower than where they normally are.
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A slowly growing, nearly contained wildfire burning on Colorado’s Western Slope is now the fourth-largest on state record, according to fire officials.
As of Monday night, the 90% contained Lee fire had scorched 138,844 acres between Meeker and Rifle. It grew by 1,086 acres on Monday, after multiple days with minimal to no growth.
The new acres consumed by the Lee fire bumped the wildfire from fifth-largest to fourth-largest in Colorado history, passing the 137,760-acre Hayman fire that sparked in 2002, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
The Lee fire is now less than 200 acres away from becoming the third-largest wildfire on state record. Currently, that ranking belongs to the 2020 Pine Gulch fire that burned 139,007 acres.
Rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the Western Slope again on Tuesday, bringing much-needed moisture to the state, fire officials said. Previous hot, dry and windy conditions fueled rapid fire growth in multiple counties across western Colorado, charring thousands of acres outside of the Lee fire.
A wildland firefighting truck heads down a road through a hillside burned from the Lee fire near Colorado 64 in Rio Blanco County, west of Meeker, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Lee and Elk fires, near Meeker
The largest wildfire burning in Colorado — now the fourth-largest ever recorded in the state — consumed more than 1,000 new acres after a week of slow growth and increased containment, fire officials said.
As of Monday night, the 138,844-acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle was 90% contained, fire officials said.
All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, and areas on pre-evacuation status were downgraded to monitoring status on Monday.
No new evacuation orders were issued overnight Monday, despite the new fire growth. An updated evacuation map 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.
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.
Thunderstorms are most likely near Meeker and Rifle between 9 a.m. and midnight on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Rain showers, which are also expected in that period, could continue through 3 a.m. Wednesday before a brief reprieve.
Rainy weather is expected to continue on Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters said.
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.
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.
A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)
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.
The Derby fire is burning on 5,346 acres with no containment, up roughly 100 acres from Sunday and 1,200 acres from Saturday, fire officials said Monday. No size update was available Tuesday morning.
“We have totally changed the pattern from hot and dry,” said meteorologist Ryan Fliehman in a Monday evening briefing. “I’m afraid we might get too much rain. We are still having chances of precipitation six days out.”
Rain has forced some fire crews to pull back, and crews need to take extra care to avoid damaging dirt roads, which have turned muddy, Operations Chief Ben Patton said.
No containment has been reported on the fire, but officials hope to start solidifying the first bits of containment in the coming days.
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, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
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, according to fire officials. 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.
At least one building has been destroyed by the wildfire, but it’s unclear what type of building it was.
Parts of White River National Forest remain closed in Eagle and Garfield counties, including southwest of Sweetwater Lake to the west rim of Deep Creek Canyon, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Some BLM lands are also closed, 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.
DENVER — One of several fires that sparked in Rio Blanco County is now 100% contained.
The 2,073-acre Crosho Fire, first reported on Aug. 11, burned in the Routt National Forest. The cause of the blaze, which threatened several structures, is unknown at this time.
No structures were lost in the fire. The following roads have reopened, according to Routt County officials:
Routt County Road 132 from Routt County Road 15 to Dunckley Pass
Routt County Road 25 from Routt County Road 132A to Routt County Road 132
Routt County Road 19 from Routt County Road 15 to Routt County Road 25
Rio Blanco County Road 8 (Dunckley Pass) at the intersection of Rio Blanco County Road 8 and Rio Blanco County Road 19
The only road that remains closed is Routt County Road 15 from the intersection of Routt County Road 17 to Crosho Lake.
As of 9:30 p.m. Monday, the fire has burned 138,844 acres and is 90% contained.
Denver7 is tracking several other wildfires on Colorado’s Western Slope. Below is a summary of those fires, containment amounts and where residents can learn more details.
Size: 5,345 acres Containment: 0% First reported: Aug. 16 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero Evacuations 🏠: Mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuation notices can be viewed here.
The lightning-sparked Derby Fire, first reported on Aug. 16, is burning 13 miles north of Dotsero in Eagle and Garfield counties.
In an update Monday, fire officials said three-quarters of recent growth on the fire’s southeast flank has been halted thanks to new control lines. Air support dropped flame retardant and water on the area on Monday.
The fire is growing slowly on other parts of its south perimeter. Firefighters are constructing new control lines in order to slow that growth.
Officials said structure protection crews are working along Red Dirt Creek Road. Firefighters have positioned sprinkler kits and removed surrounding fuels in an attempt to protect more than 500 structures.
Size: 138,844 acres Containment: 90% First reported: Aug. 2 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 18 miles southwest of Meeker Evacuations 🏠: For the most up-to-date evacuation map, click here. Pre-evacuations: For the most up-to-date pre-evacuation map, click here.
The lightning-sparked Lee Fire, first reported on Aug. 2, is burning 18 miles southwest of Meeker in Rio Blanco County. Three homes and 12 outbuildings have burned so far.
The FDNY Incident Management Team assumed control of the fire Monday morning. Crews worked Monday to continue securing its perimeter.
Officials said fire activity remained minimal on Sunday, with only “isolated creeping and smoldering observed.”
A wet weather pattern is expected this week, with a 90-100% chance of daily rainfall in the area through Thursday. Fire officials said these storms may bring periods of heavy rain, frequent lightning, gusty winds and small hail.
The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office downgraded Evacuation Zones 20, 21, 22, 23, 61, 62, 63 and 64 from SET (yellow) to READY (green) on Monday. Evacuations for Zone 50 were lifted. To see what zone your address falls into, click this link.
A partial closure of the White River National Forest is still in effect due to the fire within the Blanco Ranger District west of and including the Long-Lost Trail system.
Size: 10,249 acres Containment: 42% First reported: July 28 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 5 miles west of Rico in the San Juan National Forest Evacuations 🏠: No current evacuations
The lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa Fire, first reported on July 28, is burning west of Telluride inside the San Juan National Forest in Dolores County.
In an update Monday evening, fire officials said the San Juan Team 8 Incident Management Team will assume responsibilities for the fire on Tuesday. Firefighters on Monday were able to take advantage of the wet weather that moved through the area.
To sign up for Dolores County emergency alerts, click here. To sign up for Montezuma County emergency alerts, click here.
Blue Ridge Fire Size: 25 acres Containment: 100% First reported: Aug. 15 Cause: Under investigation Location: La Plata County Notes: All evacuation and pre-evacuation orders lifted on Aug. 18.
Crosho Fire Size:2,073 acres Containment:100% First reported:Aug. 11 at 3:25 pm. Cause:Unknown
Deer Creek Fire Size: 17,724 Acres Containment: 100% First reported: July 10 Cause: Under investigation (as of last update on Aug. 12) Location: Eastern Utah and Montrose County (Colorado)
Leroux Fire Size: 195 Acres Containment: 100% First reported: Aug. 3 Cause: ⚡️ Location: Delta County
Oak Fire Size: 75 acres Contained: 78% (as of last update on Aug. 13) First reported: Aug. 10 Cause: Structure fire Location: Archuleta County west of Pagosa Springs Notes: The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said two suspects have been arrested in connection with an illegal burn that started this fire. The suspects have been identified as Sergio Alaniz Jr., 41, and Ross Heirigs, 60. They were arrested on charges of fourth-degree arson.
Peninsula Fire Size: 17 acres Containment: 80% (as of last update on Aug. 10) First reported: Aug. 8 Cause: ⚡️ Location: South of Highway 145, between Norwood and Placerville
South Rim Fire Size: 4,232 Acres Containment: 100% containment likely will not occur until snowfall First reported: July 10 Cause: ⚡️ Location: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Turner Gulch Fire Size:31,699 acres Contained: 96% First reported:July 10 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 8 miles northeast of Gateway in Mesa County Evacuations 🏠: All evacuation orders have been lifted
Wright Draw Fire Size: 466 acres Containment: 100% First reported: July 10 Cause: ⚡️ Location: Mesa County
Windy Gap Fire Size: 30 acres Containment: 100% First reported: Aug. 6 Cause: Unknown Location: Grand County
Yellowjacket Fire Size: 29 acres Contained: 40% (as of last update on Aug. 16) First reported: Aug. 15 Cause: Unknown Location: Northeast of Meeker
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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 Lee fire 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 over the next several days will bring much-needed rain to the drought-stricken Western Slope, according to the National Weather Service. 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.
A wildland firefighting truck heads down a road through a hillside burned from the Lee fire near Colorado 64 in Rio Blanco County, west of Meeker, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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, fire officials said.
“Minimal work” remains to fully contain the wildfire, Incident Commander Brent Olson said in a Sunday afternoon briefing.
All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, but multiple areas around the fire remain on pre-evacuation status. An updated evacuation map 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.
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 Meeker and Rifle 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 hourly forecasts from the weather service.
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.
Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Lee fire burn area on Sunday afternoon. The water caused a debris flow, which was blocking Piceance Creek Road, officials said in a Sunday afternoon update. It’s unclear if rain caused flooding in the Elk fire burn scar.
A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)
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 Derby fire is burning on 5,346 acres with no containment, up roughly 100 acres from Sunday and 1,200 acres from Saturday, fire officials said.
Thunderstorm activity and gusty winds have driven the fire south in recent days, meteorologist Ryan Fliehman said in a Sunday afternoon briefing.
Rain showers and thunderstorms started Sunday afternoon and are expected to continue through Wednesday as a “strong monsoonal push of moisture” hits the Western Slope, Fliehman said.
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, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
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 will be lifted for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek at 10 a.m. Monday, allowing limited access for residents to return home, according to fire officials. Residents will be required to present proof of address at checkpoints along Colorado River Road.
That area will remain on pre-evacuation status and people may be required to re-evacuate if conditions change, fire officials said. Livestock will not be allowed to return yet. The wildfire’s activity remains unpredictable.
“This is not a full repopulation, as the risks are still very high and residents should remain prepared to vacate at any time,” Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek said in a statement on social media.
Travel within the restricted area must remain extremely limited to protect both residents and fire crews, sheriff’s officials said. The best window for essential travel is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when conditions are safest and least disruptive to emergency operations.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office is working on a plan to allow some evacuated residents to access their homes, specifically “those who own property or depend on it for their livelihood,” sheriff’s officials said Sunday. Exact details of that plan were not available, and the evacuation orders remain in place.
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 White River National Forest in Eagle and Garfield counties, including southwest of Sweetwater Lake to the west rim of Deep Creek Canyon. Some BLM lands are also closed, 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.
The Stoner Mesa fire burns in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan National Forest on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Photo provided by Stoner Mesa Fire Information)
Stoner Mesa fire, near Dolores
The Stoner Mesa fire 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, according to the wildfire’s evacuation map.
All pre-evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, but sections of the San Juan National Forest remain closed for the wildfire.
As of Sunday, the lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa fire was 41% contained.
A Meeker fire department truck stations itself at an out building across from W. Highway 64 as smoke billows on a ridge above it from the Lee fire in Rio Blanco County just outside of Meeker on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Air-quality impacts
Air quality alerts for wildfire smoke 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.
All residents should limit outdoor activity when heavy smoke is present. If visibility drops to 5 miles or less, the smoke has reached unhealthy levels.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Lightning is being blamed for sparking at least 10 wildfires in the Grand Junction area in the past 24 hours, according to the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit on Saturday.
Most of the fires have been contained to a quarter-acre in size, the agency said. However, the Baxter Fire, as it is being called, burning 15 miles northwest of Mack, has grown to more than five acres.
That Mesa County blaze is burning in rugged and remote terrain, making it difficult for crews to reach, the Upper Colorado fire agency said. But additional resources have arrived to assist in containing the Baxter Fire.
More dry thunderstorms are forecast again for the area Saturday, increasing the potential for new fires.
In Grand County, firefighters responded Saturday to a new fire burning two miles southwest of Meadow Creek Reservoir. The Hurd Fire is only a half-acre in size and 50% contained as of Sunday. There is no word on its origin.
Besides Mother Nature, the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit said that of the 133 Colorado wildfires started in 2025, 79 of them have been human-caused.
The 42-acre La Plata Fire, first reported Aug. 16, was caused by an abandoned campfire, fire officials reported Saturday. The fire is 0% contained and burning in the Pike-San Isabel National Forests, four miles west of Twin Lakes in Chaffee and Lake counties.
Crews battling the La Plata Fire are getting some help as almost a half-inch of rain fell over the area overnight.
Other Western Slope counties have seen similar fires over the past couple of months.
The extreme fire behavior prompted Gov. Jared Polis to sign an executive order declaring a disaster emergency, which will bolster the state’s response to these and any new potential wildfires.
Denver7 is tracking several other wildfires on Colorado’s Western Slope. Below is a summary of those fires, containment amounts and where residents can learn more details.
Size: 5,248 acres Containment: 0% First reported: Aug. 16 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero Evacuations 🏠: Mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuation notices can be viewed here.
The lightning-sparked Derby Fire, first reported on Aug. 16, is burning 13 miles north of Dotsero in Eagle and Garfield counties.
On Friday, a helicopter assigned to the Derby Fire was involved in an “incident,” according to the US Forest Service.
The agency said there is an unconfirmed report that the aircraft is in a lake 13 miles northwest of the Eagle County Regional Airport.
The US Forest Service said the helicopter pilot was picked up by another aircraft and flown to Eagle County Regional Airport. The pilot was checked out by emergency medical personnel and had “minor bumps and bruises” but refused further medical attention.
At least one structure has been lost in the Sugarloaf Mountain area due to the fire, officials said.
On Sunday, officials said they are working on a plan to allow limited access to the evacuation zone for some Sweetwater residents—specifically, those who own property or depend on it for their livelihood.
Size: 137,758 acres Containment: 86% First reported: Aug. 2 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 18 miles southwest of Meeker Evacuations 🏠: For the most up-to-date evacuation map, click here. Pre-evacuations: For the most up-to-date pre-evacuation map, click here.
The lightning-sparked Lee Fire, first reported on Aug. 2, is burning 18 miles southwest of Meeker in Rio Blanco County.
Three homes and 12 outbuildings have burned so far in the Lee Fire, according to officials in Rio Blanco County, who said firefighters completed chipping operations on the east flank of the fire.
In a Saturday update, fire officials said Lee that afternoon storms Friday produced nearly 0.20 inch of rain in Meeker, but no measurable amount over the fire area. However, suppression efforts were successful in the northwestern corner of the fire area on a hot spot that was detected.
However, a week-long wet pattern will bring rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the fire area, with notable wetting rainfall by the end of the week.
Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management rescinded the land closure order for BLM-managed public lands in Garfield County because of the Lee Fire. The rescission is effective immediately because fire and emergency managers have determined the area is safe.
A partial closure of the White River National Forest is still in effect due to the fire within the Blanco Ranger District west of and including the Long-Lost Trail system.
Size: 2,072 acres Containment: 81% First reported: Aug. 11 at 3:25 pm. Cause: Unknown Location: Routt National Forest in Rio Blanco County Evacuations 🏠: No evacuations at this time
The 2,072-acre Crosho Fire, first reported on Aug. 11, is burning in Routt National Forest in Rio Blanco County. The cause of the blaze, which is threatening several structures, is unknown at this time.
The Crosho Fire continues to burn in the Routt National Forest but has seen no growth since the weekend, according to the latest update from fire officials.
Sixty-seven structures continue to be threatened by the fire, according to the Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team, but none have burned as of Friday.
In a Friday update, fire officials said the eastern perimeter of the fire has been contained. Mop-up operations, supported by water, were progressing to the north and west of the fire, where crews were extinguishing pockets of remaining heat.
There are currently no pre-evacuations or evacuation orders for the fire, according to the latest map from the Routt County Office of Emergency Management.
Size: 10,233 acres Containment: 41% First reported: July 28 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 5 miles west of Rico in the San Juan National Forest Evacuations 🏠: No current evacuations
The lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa Fire, first reported on July 28, is burning west of Telluride inside the San Juan National Forest in Dolores County.
The west side of the Stoner Mesa Fire, near the Stoner Creek drainage, continues to be most active, fire officials said in an update Friday, adding work will continue to improve the fireline and will conduct strategic firing operations, as conditions allow, to remove fuels between the line and the canyon rim.
On Saturday, fire activity decreased with the arrival of thunderstorms and rainfall. Overnight relative humidity recovery was high, and firefighters will see additional precipitation over the fire area for the next several days.
A community meeting is being planned for Sunday, Aug. 24, in Dolores, but no details about when or where it’ll be have been released yet.
To sign up for Dolores County emergency alerts, click here. To sign up for Montezuma County emergency alerts, click here.
Blue Ridge Fire Size: 25 acres Containment: 100% First reported: Aug. 15 Cause: Under investigation Location: La Plata County Notes: All evacuation and pre-evacuation orders lifted on Aug. 18.
Oak Fire Size: 75 acres Contained: 78% (as of last update on Aug. 13) First reported: Aug. 10 Cause: Structure fire Location: Archuleta County west of Pagosa Springs Notes: The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said two suspects have been arrested in connection with an illegal burn that started this fire. The suspects have been identified as Sergio Alaniz Jr., 41, and Ross Heirigs, 60. They were arrested on charges of fourth-degree arson.
Peninsula Fire Size: 17 acres Containment: 80% (as of last update on Aug. 10) First reported: Aug. 8 Cause: ⚡️ Location: South of Highway 145, between Norwood and Placerville
Yellowjacket Fire Size: 29 acres Contained: 40% (as of last update on Aug. 16) First reported: Aug. 15 Cause: Unknown Location: Northeast of Meeker
Deer Creek Fire Size: 17,724 Acres Containment: 100% First reported: July 10 Cause: Under investigation (as of last update on Aug. 12) Location: Eastern Utah and Montrose County (Colorado)
South Rim Fire Size: 4,232 Acres Containment: 100% containment likely will not occur until snowfall First reported: July 10 Cause: ⚡️ Location: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Turner Gulch Fire Size:31,699 acres Contained: 96% First reported:July 10 Cause: ⚡️ Location: 8 miles northeast of Gateway in Mesa County Evacuations 🏠: All evacuation orders have been lifted
Leroux Fire Size: 195 Acres Containment: 100% First reported: Aug. 3 Cause: ⚡️ Location: Delta County
Wright Draw Fire Size: 466 acres Containment: 100% First reported: July 10 Cause: ⚡️ Location: Mesa County
Windy Gap Fire Size: 30 acres Containment: 100% First reported: Aug. 6 Cause: Unknown Location: Grand County
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The human-sparked Pearl fire burning west of Fort Collins in Larimer County is 75% contained, fire officials announced Saturday.
The Pearl fire — a wildfire that started on private property in Larimer County on Monday — is burning on 128 acres of land near Red Feather Lakes, fire officials said. That’s nearly the same size as 97 football fields put together.
Containment isn’t the end of a wildfire, it’s merely the status of a control line being completed around the fire that can stop the flames’ spread. A wildfire can continue to burn for days or weeks after being fully contained.
Larimer County officials are still investigating what started the Pearl fire but said it was human-caused.
As rain and snow move in Saturday afternoon on northern Colorado — creating more favorable firefighting conditions — the Incident Management Team plans to reduce the number of resources assigned to the fire, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service.
Residents in the Crystal Lakes area living off of Pearl Beaver Road, Bear Ridge Drive, Mount Hellene Drive and near Deadman Lookout remain on mandatory evacuation orders Saturday, according to the county evacuation map.
The Forest Service also issued a closure order for the immediate fire area.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that the Quarry Fire is “just different” — the terrain is rocky, loose and tough for crews to navigate.
The area has dense vegeetation, including timber and scrub oak, which the Jeffco sheriff’s office said has been observed burning up to 50 feet high.
“I would be surprised if we put a ‘done’ sign on this thing in two days. No. That’s not going to happen. We’re going to be on this a while,” Mark Techmeyer, the director of public affairs for the Jeffco sheriff, said.
However, the good news is — the fire did not grow overnight Wednesday. It remains at 341 acres, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. While temperatures are forecasted in the 90s Thursday, Jefferson County crews are hopeful the humidity rising may be helpful for keeping the fire from spreading.
Jeffco Sheriff’s Office provides Thursday morning update on Quarry Fire
San Juan hotshot crews arrived and started work on the fire Thursday, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning news conference.
“They’re like the SWAT team of firefighters,” Techmeyer said. “They take care of tough situations.”
Stacey Martin, the public information officer, said the hotshot crews train for this kind of assignment year-round. About 75 firefighters total are on the ground Thursday, according to the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office. There’s one helicopter and large air tanker working on tamping down the fire from the air.
The focus Thursday is to keep the fire from jumping to the north side of Deer Creek Canyon Road.
“That would be the worst case scenario,” Techmeyer said. “We don’t anticipate that to happen. Our number one goal is not to let that happen.”
There are limited resources available, though, due to all the other active wildfires in Colorado and in California, the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Of the resources that are available to fight the Quarry Fire, Techmeyer said five firefighters were hospitalized Wednesday — four experienced heat exhaustion and the fifth had a seizure. Three of the four who had heat exhaustion were back on the job Thursday, according to Techmeyer.
“The morale is ‘let’s go to war,’” Techmeyer said.
While rattlesnakes are active in the area this time of year, Techmeyer said he has not heard any reports of a firefighter encountering one during their time working to contain the blaze.
“They are aware of a fire just like we are and they run,”
The Quarry Fire remains at 0% containment after it was first detected around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30. It was spotted by a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy doing his regular patrol in the area at about 9 p.m. Tuesday when he came across a small 10×10 spot fire which grew to 100 acres within about three hours.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“Everyone should be worried right now. There’s a huge fire that’s difficult to fight in our community. Not being worried would be the concern,” Techmeyer said.
Wildfire
Quarry Fire grows to 341 acres west of Ken Caryl, hundreds evacuated
575 homes have been evacuated across five subdivisions, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Techmyer reassured people who have evacuated their homes that sheriff’s deputies are patrolling the area both night and day.
“There’s no burglaries going on,” Techmeyer said.
Road closures remain in place for South Valley Road and Deer Creek Canyon Road. South Cougar Road, Pleasant Road, West Ranch Trail and Keuster Road are also closed.
Those looking to recreate should look elsewhere outside of Jefferson County as Chatfield State Park is closed due to the fire, CPW posted on X.
In Jefferson County, the Lookout Alertemergency notification system is used to citizens with warnings of flood, fire, tornadoes, chemical spills or dangerous suspects. Lookout Alert is free for all residents. Click here to sign up.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is expected to have another press conference to provide a new update on the Quarry Fire Thursday afternoon.
As wildfires burned thousands of acres across the Front Range on Wednesday, some residents heeded early morning calls to leave while others opted to stay put on land that already required extra self-sufficiency.
At the Dakota Ridge High School, the evacuation site for the Quarry fire burning near Deer Creek Canyon in Jefferson County, John Banks coughed in the parking lot as smoke from the fire threatening his neighborhood hung heavily in the air.
Banks and his wife, Diane, fled the fire early Wednesday after a 1:30 a.m. phone call ordered them to evacuate.
The couple slept in their car overnight with their rescue cat, Mea, and the few items they scooped from their home after the evacuation call: medications, some clothes, John’s oxygen tanks and cancer medications, and Mea’s food and litter.
They left everything else behind in the home where they’ve lived for 34 years.
“These are just things,” said Banks, 78.
He paused, emotion creeping into his voice.
“If you lose things, you still have your friends, your family.”
The couple found a hotel to stay in for the next night and planned to spend Wednesday going to pre-scheduled doctor appointments.
“Life throws spitballs at you,” John Banks said. “But you keep going.”
When the couple arrived at the evacuation center at Dakota Ridge High School at 3 a.m. Wednesday, they were one of the first people to arrive.
By 9 a.m., dozens of cars were parked at the school — some of the nearly 600 households ordered to evacuate from the Quarry fire. A few evacuees took time to walk their dogs. In the next lot over, a Denver Fire Department crew suited up to respond to the fire.
Elden Coombs, 85, sat with his neighbors in the parking lot waiting for news. He moved to the Homewood Park neighborhood in 1969 and has lived through two other fires, a blizzard and two floods.
Quarry fire evacuee Elden Coombs waits in the shade at the evacuation center at Dakota Ridge High School in Jefferson County on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Coombs had to evacuate from the Homewood Park area. (Photo by Andy Cross/ The Denver Post)
He left his home after getting the evacuation call at about 2 a.m. He grabbed some clothes, important documents and his medicine and fled.
“I haven’t been to bed,” he said. “I just hope they get the fire under control.”
At the frontlines of the Stone Canyon fire north of Lyons, Boulder County sheriff’s Sgt. Cody Sears patrolled the still-unburned areas where flames were flaring and spreading.
“So far, so good. We’ll see what the winds do,” Sears said as he rolled out around 11 a.m. Wednesday
He went first to an area where flames had taken a run to the northeast, threatening evacuated houses a couple of miles north of Lyons, then headed to terrain straddling Boulder and Larimer counties, a few miles south of the Alexander Mountain Fire — where residents apparently had elected to stay, hunkering down on their land.
Through smoke on Dakota Ridge Road, Sears spotted two horses: one brown, one white. He radioed county animal control crews, alerting them to a possible rescue. He was uneasy. “This fire is still really active,” he said.
But he and fellow officers, reaching homes there, found residents well in control.
At a front door in the area, Carmen Roberts, 50, came to the door and told him she and her family had stayed through the night. They had water tanks, heavy equipment, and were ready to evacuate with their horses if the flames came too close, she said.
Boulder County sheriff’s Sgt. Cody Sears talks to Carmen Roberts about her decision to remain in her home and not evacuate despite the incoming Stone Canyon fire near Lyons on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)
“We’ve have been here over 30 years. We’ve been through these things several times,” Roberts said. “We have everything packed, out by the door. We are going to go if we need to.”
They’d slept a bit through the night. “When it happens over and over and over, the stress is less,” she said.
Yet fire perils seem to be increasing along Colorado’s Front Range, Roberts acknowledged. The problem is more and more people moving in, she said. “Fire is worse now because it affects more people. It is threatening more homes because there are more homes around.”
Near the top of Stone Canyon, business owner Matthew Lee, too, had spent the night on his property — 80 acres where he’d grazed cattle this spring before moving them away about three weeks ago, leaving the grass short enough to ease his worries.
The fire was burning within a quarter mile of his metal-roofed house.
He’d parked down the hill and, leaning on the back of his truck, looked upward. On Tuesday night, power went out at 10:30 p.m. and his cellphone went dead, said Lee, 55.
Early Wednesday, he told Sears, flames crested over the ridge. Slurry bombers dropped red fire retardant on that terrain as he watched.
He had declined to evacuate — like other self-reliant residents in the foothills north of Lyons. He lauded Colorado’s approach of aggressive fire suppression, dousing flames before fires can run their natural course.
“The most I have seen,” he said. “Yesterday, it was an air show. That’s good.”
