Colorado wildfires: Eagle County issues pre-evacuations for Derby fire

Lauren Penington and Katie Langford, The Denver Post on Aug 19, 2025

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DENVER — Eagle County officials issued pre-evacuation warnings for people living in the northwest corner of the county as activity on the 50-acre Derby fire picks up.

People living south of the Routt County line and east of the Garfield County line to the Colorado River should be prepared to evacuate, county officials said. The warning also includes the community of burns and east to Eby Creek Road. Updated Eagle County evacuation maps are available online.

Evacuations were lifted Monday night for the Crosho fire burning in Rio Blanco and Routt counties, but areas surrounding the wildfire remain on pre-evacuation notice, according to county officials.

The Crosho fire is one of multiple wildfires actively burning on Colorado’s western slope that together have consumed hundreds of miles, including one that started less than two days ago.

The Lee fire burning west of the Crosho fire in Rio Blanco County is Colorado’s fifth-largest wildfire on record, according to the state’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

Lee and Elk fires near Meeker

Drought conditions and steep terrain have fueled the fires burning near Meeker in Rio Blanco County, officials said.

Saturday afternoon rain showers allowed firefighters to gain control of the 14,518-acre Elk fire and increase containment lines around the 137,485-acre Lee fire. As of Monday evening, the Lee fire was 61% contained.

The lightning-sparked wildfires started on opposite sides of Meeker in more than two weeks ago and together have consumed hundreds of square miles.

Warm and dry weather is forecast throughout the week, which could mean the return of critical fire danger conditions.

The Elk fire is fully contained, but spot fires are possible if the wind sends embers over the fire line, fire officials said. The fire was still burning inside the containment lines as of Monday.

The wildfire burn areas are closed to the public, and multiple zones on the Lee fire’s southern edge remain under mandatory evacuation orders. Pre-evacuation orders were lifted Monday around the Elk fire, but remain active around the Lee fire, fire officials said.

The two wildfires have destroyed five homes and 14 outbuildings. Fire officials said the blazes were difficult to fight because of steep terrain, gusty winds, heat and extreme drought.

Derby fire in Eagle County

A new wildfire sparked in the “remote, rugged terrain” of White River National Forest on Sunday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The Derby fire was discovered about 15 miles from Dotsero in Eagle County late Sunday morning, forest officials said.

It was burning on 50 acres as of Tuesday morning and becoming more active as temperatures rose. Eagle County officials sent out pre-evacuation notices for people living in the northwest corner of the county “as a precaution,” and no buildings are in immediate danger, according to the forest service.

Flames were first spotted on a steep cliff above the west fork of Red Dirt Creek, fire officials said. Fire activity picked up on Monday as flaming debris rolled down the cliff, spreading the fire.

Fire officials believe the wildfire was started by lightning.

Stoner Mesa fire, near Dolores

A wildfire burning in the San Juan National Forest in western Colorado has consumed nearly 9,000 acres with no containment.

The lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa fire is burning on 8,964 acres in Dolores County, according to a Tuesday morning update.

“Today will continue to be hot and dry with relative humidity reaching critical values,” fire officials said in the Tuesday update, adding that lower humidities, hotter temperatures and minimal cloud cover are expected over the next few days.

The nearby town of Rico remains on pre-evacuation status, and parts of the national forest are closed to the public because of the fire. New pre-evacuation orders were issued Monday night from the edge of Dolores County to the Navajo Trailhead, according to the county’s emergency management team.

Fire officials have been reluctant to send firefighters too far into the blaze to fight it because of the steep terrain and hazardous conditions, Stoner Mesa fire incident commander Justin Conrad said at a Monday night community meeting.

Crosho fire near Yampa

Evacuation orders were lifted Monday for a wildfire that at one point threatened more than 200 structures. No structures have been destroyed, fire officials said.

The 2,037-acre Crosho fire burning on the border of Rio Blanco and Routt counties west of Yampa is 8% contained, fire officials said Monday. The fire grew by roughly 30 acres on Sunday.

No size update was available on Tuesday.

Cool temperatures, calm winds and light precipitation over the weekend helped moderate fire behavior, but a warmer and drier week ahead could fan the flames, fire officials said.

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