GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Today, the Bureau of Land Management issued an order closing BLM-managed public lands in Garfield and Eagle Counties because of the Derby Fire. BLM issued the emergency closure to keep the public and firefighters safe while fire activity is in the area. The order is effective immediately and the closure will remain until fire managers declare the Derby Fire controlled or BLM rescinds the order.
This closure affects BLM lands north and west of the town of Gypsum, Colorado, that are north of Coffee Pot Road; west of the Colorado River; east of the White River National Forest boundary; and south of Derby Creek.
Please refer to the map below and closure order (on the BLM website) for detailed information on the lands that are closed.
The temporary closing of the lands is to reduce exposure to hazardous situations due to the recent, rapid rates of spread and fire behavior of the Derby Fire. The public is to remain clear of these closed lands. Please use caution and watch for firefighters when traveling in the area.
Violations of this emergency order may lead to prosecution, with fines and possible imprisonment.
We appreciate your understanding as we prioritize safety and resource integrity during this critical time. For more information about the land closure, please call the Colorado River Valley Field Office front desk at 970-876-9000. For more information about the Derby Fire, please call the fire information line at 970-355-3283.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Overnight, diurnal wind increased fire behavior. The fire was active through the night increasing along the southern edge. Today, fire behavior was reduced with the lack of wind. We expect to have accurate acreage tomorrow after the infrared flight tonight.
August 20, 2025, 1:10 p.m.: – From the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office:
Colorado River Road is closed to non-residents and non-emergency traffic. Please stay off the road to allow for a safe and effective incident response.
La Carretera del Rio Colorado esta cerrada al trafico no residente y no urgente. Por favor, mantengase alejado de la carretera para permitir una respuesta segura y eficaz al incidente.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Here is this morning’s update from Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire information Public phone line: (970) 355-3282 Office hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2025.derby@firenet.gov
August 20, 2025, 1:03 p.m. –
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens Location: 13 miles west of Dotsero, CO Start date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 839 acres Completion/containment: 0% 80 est. Total Personnel; 6 Engines; 1 Helicopter; 2 Hand Crews
KEY MESSAGE:
The Derby Fire was ignited by lightning on an extremely steep cliff face in a remote area near the Flat Tops Wilderness on Saturday evening. Initial attack efforts by smokejumpers on Sunday were hindered by rollout of burning material, repeatedly igniting the slope below the main fire.
Protection of life and property are key objectives for managing this fire.
CURRENT STATUS:
The Complex Incident Management Team managing the Turner Gulch Fire assumed command of the Derby Fire this morning. The Derby Fire saw significant growth overnight. Structure assessment and area reconnaissance will be the main tasks for fire managers today, determining the best strategy to engage the fire with the most likelihood for success, while ensuring for firefighter safety. The remote location makes access very difficult.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Several consecutive days of hot and dry weather with very low relative humidities has made fuels across Colorado very receptive. Late today, an incoming monsoonal front may produce erratic outflow winds, increasing rates of spread in the subalpine fir and lodgepole pine forest.
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES
Eagle County has issued an evacuation notice that Residents of Sweetwater Rd and areas of the Colorado River Rd from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek must be out of their homes by 12pm noon Wed, 8/20. Derby Mesa Loop remains in pre-evacuation status. Pre-evacuation notice and other information on the Derby Fire is available at www.ecemergency.org. The White River National Forest has issued a public closure for firefighter and public safety in Eagle and Garfield Counties in the vicinity of the fire. The closure is within the Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts. The closure order and map are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver. Specific closure information and maps will also be posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire as they are implemented.
MENSAJE CLAVE: El incendio Derby se originó el sábado por la noche a causa de un rayo en un acantilado extremadamente empinado en una zona remota cerca de Flat Tops Wilderness. Los esfuerzos iniciales de ataque de los paracaidistas el domingo se vieron obstaculizados por el despliegue de material incendiario, que incendió repetidamente la ladera bajo el incendio principal.
La protección de vidas y propiedades es fundamental para la gestión de este incendio.
CLIMA Y COMPORTAMIENTO DEL INCENDIO Varios dÃas consecutivos de clima cálido y seco con humedades relativas muy bajas han hecho que los combustibles en todo Colorado sean muy receptivos. Más tarde hoy, un frente monzónico entrante podrÃa producir vientos de salida erráticos, aumentando las tasas de propagación en los bosques de abetos subalpinos y pinos lodgepole.
TEMPORARY AREA CLOSURE ORDER USDA FOREST SERVICE WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS RESTRICTION EAGLE-HOLY CROSS RANGER DISTRICT
For the protection of health and safety to the public pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited within the White River National Forest, Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts, Eagle and Garfield counties, in the State of Colorado.
The restricted area is further defined as the area on National Forest System lands within the Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts located, starting north of Sweetwater Lake, following the Forest boundary north and east to the intersection of the Derby Loop Road (Eagle County Road 39). Then follow Middle Derby Creek generally northwest to Island Lakes. Then, generally south following the Island Lakes Trail (#1842), the W Mountain Trail (#1817), the Turret-Crescent Trail (#2269) and the Turret Creek Trail (#1838) back to Sweetwater Lake.
The following roads are located within the closure: National Forest System Roads 609.1; 611.1; 611.2A; 611.2B; 613.1; 613.1A; 616.1.
The following trails are located within the closure: Nellies (#1839); Johnny Meyers (#2067); Ute-Sweetwater (#2032); South W (#2060); W Mountain Trail (#1817) between Big Spring and Turret-Crescent Trail (#2269); Roberts Trail (#2076).
The attached map (Appendix A) shows the area of temporary closure order.
PROHIBITIONS:
Going into or occupying the temporary area closure within the National Forest System lands until order closure order is rescinded. See Attached Map. 36 C.F.R. 261.53(e)
EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty;
Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.Â
This order shall remain in effect until rescinded or until December 31, 2025, whichever event occurs first.
Done at Glenwood Springs, this 19th day of August 2025
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the Derby Fire at 6:00 a.m. today. It is currently estimated at over 839 acres. More resources are arriving on-scene.
Here is an operational update and more information will be forthcoming throughout the day.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,755 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 68% | Elk Fire: 100% 523 Total Personnel; 5 Helicopters; 28 Engines; 6 Hand Crews; 7 Water Tenders; 5 Dozers
Current Status:
Lee Fire – Yesterday firefighters evaluated structure protection needs in unaffected areas and began disassembling and backhauling unnecessary supplies. Crews patrolled the fire lines and monitored for hot spots. Today crews intend to clean up some remaining interior pockets of unburned fuel, creating a more uniform black footprint. Firefighters will patrol the fire perimeter and increase mop-up depth where possible along the fire lines. Contingency equipment and crews are identified to respond and support the local fire response agencies if they need initial attack assistance on any new fires.
Elk Fire – For the next few days, suppression repair teams will operate heavy machinery to loosen the soil and disperse vegetation, reestablishing the land’s original contours and surface features. These efforts are essential for curbing erosion, securing soil stability, and encouraging vigorous vegetation regrowth. The impacts caused by the firefighting efforts are the focus of this repair work.
Weather and Fire Behavior
Record temperatures are expected throughout the week. Chances for moisture will gradually increase each day. Limited rainfall is expected in the next few days, but strong outflow winds and lightning will be possible. Wetting rain chances increase this weekend and into early next week.
Another warm and dry day will bring moderate to active fire behavior in unburned islands that still hold heat on their perimeters. Surface fire spread along with single tree and group tree torching will produce visible smoke columns.
Equipo 1 de Gestión de Incidentes del Complejo de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante de Incidentes Brent Olson Ubicación: 11 millas al sur de Meeker, Colorado Fecha de inicio: 08/02/2025 Causa: Relámpago Tamaño: Lee Incendio: 137,755 acres | Incendio Elk: 14,518 acres Contención: Incendio Lee: 68% | Incendio Elk: 100% 523 Personal total; 28 camiones de bomberos; 5 helicópteros; 6 cuadrillas; 5 topadoras; 7 Licitaciones de agua
ESTADO ACTUAL: Incendio Lee – Ayer, los bomberos evaluaron las necesidades de protección de estructuras en áreas no afectadas y comenzaron a desmontar y transportar suministros innecesarios. Los equipos patrullaron las lÃneas de fuego y monitorearon los puntos calientes. Hoy en dÃa, las cuadrillas tienen la intención de limpiar algunas bolsas interiores restantes de combustible no quemado, creando una huella negra más uniforme. Los bomberos patrullarán el perÃmetro del incendio y aumentarán la profundidad de limpieza cuando sea posible a lo largo de las lÃneas de fuego. Se identifican equipos y cuadrillas de contingencia para responder y apoyar a las agencias locales de respuesta a incendios si necesitan asistencia de ataque inicial en cualquier incendio nuevo. Incendio Elk – Durante los próximos dÃas, los equipos de reparación de la supresión operarán maquinaria pesada para aflojar el suelo y dispersar la vegetación, restableciendo los contornos originales de la tierra y las caracterÃsticas de la superficie. Estos esfuerzos son esenciales para frenar la erosión, asegurar la estabilidad del suelo y fomentar el crecimiento vigoroso de la vegetación. Los impactos causados por los esfuerzos de extinción de incendios son el foco de este trabajo de reparación.
Otro dÃa cálido y seco traerá un comportamiento de fuego moderado a activo en islas no quemadas que aún mantienen calor en sus perÃmetros. La propagación del fuego en la superficie junto con la quema de un solo árbol y un árbol grupal producirá columnas de humo visibles.
CIERRES Y MENSAJES ESPECIALES Piceance Creek Road (CR 5) permanece cerrada. Para obtener información precisa y actualizada sobre evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras para el condado de RÃo Blanco, visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RÃo Blanco en: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. Para obtener actualizaciones del condado de Garfield, visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. La información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River está disponible en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. La información sobre el cierre de la oficina de campo de BLM White River está disponible en: https://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW.
GO (RED) EVACUATE zone 265 by noon today, including Sweetwater, Sweetwater Lake and CR 150 Road and sections of Colorado River Road from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek, both in Eagle and Garfield counties.
SALIR (ROJO) EVACUAR zona 265 al mediodÃa de hoy, incluyendo Sweetwater, Sweetwater Lake y CR 150 Road y secciones de Colorado River Road desde Sweetwater hasta Red Dirt Creek, ambos en los condados de Eagle y Garfield.
INFORMACIÓN DEL CONDADO DE EAGLE REGÃSTRESE PARA RECIBIR ALERTAS – Alertas del 911 ACTUALIZACIONES DE INCIDENTES – Emergencia de EC o aplicación Reachwell FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso @eaglecountyso ________________
The Derby Fire started on 8/17/2025. The small, lightning-ignited fire was detected on a steep cliff above the West Fork of Red Dirt Creek late Sunday morning.
8.20.25, 7:45 a.m. – Evacuation Notice: Significant fire growth on the Derby Fire overnight.
Residents of Sweetwater Rd and areas of the Colorado River Rd from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek must leave the area by 12pm noon Wed, 8/20.
Derby Mesa Loop remains in pre-evacuation at this time.
An Evacuation Center is open and located at: – Two Rivers Community Center, 80 Lake Shore Drive, Dotsero. We are not accepting or in need of any donations at this time.
Livestock and animal evacuation support, please contact Connie Melzer of CSU Extension, 970-471-8043.
For support with smaller animals, dogs and cats, please call the Eagle County Animal Services #970-328-3647 and press 2.
More information and resources will be shared here on ECEmergency.org.
Información de seguridad pública del condado de Eagle
El incendio Derby comenzó el 17/8/2025. El pequeño incendio, originado por un rayo, se detectó en un acantilado escarpado sobre la bifurcación oeste del arroyo Red Dirt la madrugada del domingo.
8.20.25, 7:45 am – Aviso de evacuación: Crecimiento significativo del incendio en el incendio Derby durante la noche.
Derby Mesa Loop permanece en pre-evacuación en este momento.
Hay un Centro de Evacuación abierto en el Centro Comunitario Two Rivers, 80 Lake Shore Drive, Dotsero. En este momento NO estamos aceptando ni necesitando donaciones.
Para recibir apoyo de evacuación de ganado y animales, comunÃquese con Connie Melzer de CSU Extension, 970-471-8043.
Para obtener ayuda con animales más pequeños, perros y gatos, llame a los Servicios para Animales del Condado de Eagle al # 970-328-3647 y presione 2.
Se compartirá más información y recursos aquà en ECEmergency.org .
: NR CIMT 1 Public Information Officer Anna Bateson
