One wildfire burning on Colorado’s Western Slope is less than 300 acres away from becoming the state’s fourth-largest fire on record.
The 137,465-acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle in Rio Blanco County is Colorado’s fifth-largest wildfire.
Colorado’s fourth-largest fire on record, the 137,760-acre Hayman fire that sparked in 2002, is only 295 acres larger than the Lee fire. The Lee fire is also just over 1,500 acres from surpassing the 139,007-acre Pine Gulch fire from 2020, Colorado’s third-largest wildfire.
Jump to: Lee and Elk fires | Stoner Mesa fire | Crosho fire
Lee and Elk fires near Meeker
The lightning-sparked Lee and Elk fires started on opposite sides of Meeker in Rio Blanco County more than two weeks ago and have together consumed hundreds of square miles.
As of Sunday night, the 137,465-acre Lee fire was 60% contained.
It’s currently the fifth-largest wildfire on record in Colorado and approaching the fourth-place position, according to the state’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Saturday afternoon rain showers helped firefighters gain control of the 14,518-acre Elk fire and increase containment lines around the Lee fire.
Warmer and drier weather returned Sunday and is forecast throughout the week. Temperatures will peak in the 90s mid-week as relative humidities drop back into the single digits, meteorologist Julie Malingowski said during a Saturday night community meeting in Meeker.
There will be no precipitation or chance of thunderstorms from Monday through Wednesday, she said. Moisture will begin to return on Thursday, but rain showers aren’t expected until Saturday.
The Elk fire is fully contained, but wind could send embers over the fire line and create spot fires, fire officials said. The fire is still burning inside the containment lines.
The wildfire burn areas are closed to the public, and multiple zones on the Lee fire’s southern edge remain under mandatory evacuation orders. Previously evacuated areas surrounding both the Lee and Elk fires were moved back to pre-evacuation status, 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.
Stoner Mesa fire, near Dolores
A wildfire burning in the San Juan National Forest in western Colorado has consumed more than 8,000 acres with no containment.
The lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa fire was last mapped at 8,369 acres in Dolores County, fire officials said Sunday. Flying embers also sparked multiple spot fires near the main burn area that firefighters are battling.
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.
Crosho fire near Yampa
More than 200 structures are threatened by a wildfire burning in western Colorado, but none have yet been destroyed, fire officials said.
The 2,004-acre Crosho fire burning on the border of Rio Blanco and Routt counties west of Yampa is 8% contained, fire officials said Sunday night.
Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect north of the blaze, and the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests are closed around the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Multiple evacuation orders were canceled Sunday morning, moving areas south and east of the fire onto pre-evacuation status. Residents should be prepared to re-evacuate if fire activity escalates.
Updated Routt County evacuation maps are available online.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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