A quick-burning fire north of Sweetwater Lake is 0% contained and is expected to continue pushing south toward the lake today, according to a Friday morning update from fire officials.
The Derby Fire in the White River National Forest was burning 3,569 acres as of 7:50 a.m. The fire, which was sparked by a lightning strike, is about 15 miles northwest of Dotsero.
The fire prompted mandatory evacuations in Eagle County on Tuesday and tripled in size on Wednesday to 2,624 acres. It continued to grow Thursday and Friday morning.
At least one building has been destroyed by the wildfire, according to a Thursday morning briefing from Operations Section Chief Philip Knaub. It’s unclear what type of building it was. Firefighters were able to save other buildings in the area.
The 211 personnel on site are focusing on the southeast side of the fire near Sweetwater Lake.
“Suppression efforts were mostly successful,” Knaub said in a Friday morning update about the previous days’ efforts.
Fire officials anticipate the blaze to continue moving south. The weather looks somewhat favorable for suppression efforts, including possible rain, Knaub said.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality health advisory for the area due to smoke in western Eagle County and eastern Garfield County.
This is a developing story.
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