Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
When you hear the word “FOBS” in the wildland fire world, what exactly does that stand for and what does it mean? A field observer (FOBS) is someone who is responsible for collecting incident status information and providing those findings to other groups in the incident command system.
In this video, field observer Ryan Ricke explains more about his responsibilities and what his role has been on the Derby Fire. #derbyfire#FireYear2025
Derby Fire Update – September 1, 2025 Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders Incident Commanders Fire Information: 970-355-3283
Size: 5,475 acres Containment:Â 6% Total personnel: 578 Cause: Lightning Resources: 4 aircraft, 9 hand crews, 27 engines, 12 heavy equipment
Current situation:
A spike camp is located near West Fork Red Dirt Creek, east of the fire edge, allowing hotshot crews to reduce travel time to where they are building direct line on the fire’s edge. The hotshots are working south to eventually meet crews working up from Poison Creek on the southeast corner. This assignment may take several days to complete.
A combined group of 30 hotshots and highly skilled medical personnel will return by helicopter to the Hack Lake area to continue their work on the western perimeter. Being transported by helicopter allows the crew to save time and conserve energy for the day’s task, rather than making an arduous hike to the fireline. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) will scout for areas of heat in spots outside the perimeter in the northwest portion of the fire and south of the Flat Top Wilderness area. UAS reconnaissance flights identify areas of heat providing crews with coordinates to effectively locate them.
Firefighters continue backhauling excess structure protection equipment from areas where it is no longer needed. Crews continue to patrol and monitor the southern portion of the fire, searching out areas of heat and extinguishing them as they work towards containment. Crews will also monitor and maintain structure protection systems that remain along the Sweetwater, Sheep Creek, and Red Dirt Creek roads.
Weather and fire behavior:
Smoke levels are expected to be more noticeable than in previous days as the drying trend continues. Starting Monday, fire activity will increase with rising temperatures and lowering humidity, as seasonal warm and dry pattern returns to Western Colorado this week. Temperatures will stay in the low seventies with a mild 10 miles per hour wind.
Evacuations and closures: Fire restrictions and closures remain in place for lands within the Bureau of Land Management – Colorado River Valley Field Office areas, https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. Restrictions and closures remain in the White River National Forest. See Critical and Fire Restriction Forest Alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/ .
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek roads have all been reopened, and the Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status: https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. All unauthorized aircraft (including drones) are prohibited from flying near the fire, as they can interfere with authorized air support operations. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Derby Fire information Phone: 970-355-3283 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Email:2025.Derby@firenet.gov
Actualización Diaria para el Incendio Derby – el 1 de septiembre de 2025
Equipo 3 del Manejo de Incidentes Complejos del Ãrea de las Montañas RocosasÂ
Comandantes del Incidente: Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders Información del incendio: 970-355-3283
Un campamento secundario se encuentra cerca de West Fork Red Dirt Creek, al este del borde del incendio, lo que permite a los equipos de bomberos “hotshot†(bomberos forestales altamente capacitados y especializados) reducir el tiempo de viaje hasta donde construyen una lÃnea directa en el borde del incendio. Los bomberos trabajan hacia el sur para reunirse con los equipos que trabajan desde Poison Creek en la esquina sureste. Esta tarea podrÃa tardar varios dÃas.
Se espera que los niveles de humo sean más visibles que en dÃas anteriores a medida que continúa la tendencia a la sequÃa. A partir del lunes, la actividad de los incendios aumentará con el aumento de las temperaturas y la disminución de la humedad, ya que el patrón estacional cálido y seco regresa al oeste de Colorado esta semana. Las temperaturas se mantendrán alrededor de los 70°F con vientos suaves de 10mph.
Evacuaciones y cierres: Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en los terrenos bajo la administración de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras del Valle del RÃo Colorado: https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en Bosque Nacional White River. Consulte las alertas forestales crÃticas y de restricciones por incendios en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/.
Ops Update Monday morning, Sept. 1, 2025, Ryan Sharpe, Operations Sections Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the #DerbyFire.
Firefighters are performing multiple operations today. A spike camp located near West Fork Red Dirt Creek has been set up east of the fire edge allowing hotshots to reduce travel time to where they are working direct on the fire perimeter. A group of hotshots will also return by helicopter to the Hack Lake area to continue their work on the western perimeter. Firefighters continue backhauling excess structure protection equipment from areas where it is no longer needed.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens
Location:Â 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date:Â 8/16/2025; Cause:Â Lightning Size:Â Est. 5,735 acres Completion/Containment:Â 5% Total personnel: 824
Key message: Â
Firefighters continue to build and strengthen control lines and scout for access routes. Smoke may be visible as interior fuels reheat during sunbreaks. Wet weather will temporarily moderate fire activity until drier conditions return.
Current status:
Firefighters are actively assessing fireline construction routes on the western side of the fire. Scouting involves mapping proposed routes and detailing the type and number of resources needed. Along the southwestern edge of the fire, crews are reinforcing control lines by searching for lingering heat and removing or extinguishing still smoldering vegetation. Called mopping up, this fire suppression tactic prevents fire spread as it limits the opportunity for embers to roll or blow across the control line into unburned fuels. On the southeastern and eastern edges firefighters are using chainsaws, hand tools and heavy equipment to continue to build line. Crews are building secondary control lines on the eastern side of the fire where hazardous trees and heavier fuel types prohibit working directly on the fire’s edge. Air resources are evaluating proposed helispot locations to have medical evacuation sites closer to where firefighters are working. Structure protection crews continue to improve and maintain fire defenses around more than 500 structures along Sweetwater Road and Red Dirt Creek Road.
Weather and fire behavior:
Cool and humid weather conditions continue over the next few days. Remnants of hurricane Juliette is expected to bring showers Friday These scattered storms will bring moisture and produce gustier winds. Drier, warmer weather is predicted Monday or Tuesday. Minimal fire behavior is expected, but daytime smoke may be visible. When periods of sunlight dry and warm vegetation, fire activity is increasing at higher elevation areas within the fire perimeter. Dead and downed trees hold heat where hot surfaces are not exposed to moisture. The fire may creep slowly in aspen stands that have not burned completely.
Closures and special messages:
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek Roads have all been reopened, and the Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status. More evacuation information is available at https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
Equipo 3 de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte,Comandante de Incidente Mike Behrens
Ubicación: 13 millas al oeste de Dotsero, CO Fecha de inicio: 08/16/2025; Causa: Rayos  Tamaño: Est. 5,735 acres Finalización/Contención: 5%      Personal total: 824
Mensaje clave:
Los bomberos continúan construyendo y reforzando las lÃneas de control y buscando rutas de acceso. Es posible que se observe humo a medida que los combustibles interiores se recalientan durante los claros de sol. El clima húmedo moderará temporalmente la actividad del fuego hasta que se reanude condiciones secas.
Las condiciones climáticas frescas y húmedas continuarán durante los próximos dÃas. Se espera que los remanentes del huracán Juliette traigan lluvias el viernes. Estas tormentas dispersas traerán humedad y producirán vientos más racheados. Se pronostica un clima más seco y cálido el lunes o martes. Se espera un comportamiento mÃnimo del fuego, pero podrÃa verse humo durante el dÃa. Cuando los perÃodos de luz solar secan y calientan la vegetación, la actividad del fuego aumenta en las zonas de mayor altitud dentro del perÃmetro del incendio. Los árboles muertos y derribados retienen el calor donde las superficies calientes no están expuestas a la humedad. El fuego podrÃa propagarse lentamente en los arboledas de álamos temblones que no se han quemado completamente.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire weather update 8-27-2025:
Incident Meteorologist, Jason Straub, discusses the upcoming weather forecast.
More light rain last night and early this morning. Cumulative total is 0.7″. Much lower chances of rain today as we switch to a drying period instead of monsoonal flow.
Smoke continues from smoldering with some single tree torching observed yesterday.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Ops Update Monday morning, Aug. 28, 2025. Philip Knaub, Operations Sections Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the Derby Fire. Sunbreaks are rekindling smoldering conifer trees at higher elevations within the fire perimeter and smoke will be visible during periods of sunshine today. Heat remains despite the rain. Firefighters are building secondary control lines on the eastern side of the fire where hazardous terrain, snags, and heavier fuel types make safe access more difficult. Control line construction continues on the southeastern fire edge. Firefighters are mopping up (removing and extinguishing burning vegetation) and patrolling completed control lines. On the west side, incident managers are evaluating a potential spike camp location for smokejumpers to more easily access the most active part of the fire. We expect to see an increase in containment over the next few days.
August 22, 2025 – Issued for western Eagle and eastern Garfield counties by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Affected area: Western Eagle and eastern Garfield Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Sweetwater Lake and Dotsero.
Advisory in effect: 9 a.m. MDT, Friday, August 22, 2025 to 9 a.m. MDT, Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Public health recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Outlook: Smoke from the Derby Fire is impacting parts of central Colorado. The heaviest smoke is expected in areas near the fire and in low-lying areas during the overnight and early morning hours, including the Sweetwater Lake and Colorado River Road between Dotsero and Burns.
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.
Firefighters made steady progress today on containment efforts across both fires, including work on contingency lines. The Elk Fire resources focused on final containment and support to local units. On the Lee Fire, crews continued to secure areas along Highway 13 and worked across the fire to reinforce lines and address interior heat.
Weather today brought higher humidity, which helped moderate fire activity. Conditions are expected to dry out over the next several days, with the potential for thunderstorms returning next week.
