Crews working two wildfires burning near Meeker in northwestern Colorado have started to gain some level of containment on the week-old blazes as one topped 100,000 acres.
The Lee fire, which was started by lightning Aug. 2 southwest of Meeker, has grown to 113,378 but is considered 7% contained, officials said in a Facebook update late Sunday night. That’s up from 88,755 reported Saturday morning.
Strong winds out of the north continue to push the southern end of the fire, which is “well staffed and prepared for more extreme fire behavior moving south,” the statement said. Their objective is to keep the fire west of Colorado 13 and north of Rio Blanco County Road 5, but “under current conditions, this will prove to be a challenge to firefighters.”
Weather conditions for Sunday are forecast to be more of the same with low humidity, gusty winds from the north and northeast, and little cloud cover.
The Lee fire is now the fifth largest wildfire in state history behind the Cameron Peak (208,913 acres), East Troublesome (193,812) and Pine Gulch (139,007) fires all in 2020 and the Hayman fire (137,760) in 2002.
The nearby Elk fire also started during the same Aug. 2 lightning storm, and has burned 14,635 acres. It is considered 30% contained, and officials said Sunday strengthened fire lines and fire activity there has slowed.
Working those fires currently are a combined 14 aircraft, 23 hand crews and 51 engines, officials said Sunday, with more than 1,000 firefighters. No structures have been reported lost in the Lee fire; two houses and one outbuilding were destroyed in the first days of the Elk fire.
Evacuation notices are being updated by the Rio Blanco County and Garfield County sheriff’s offices.
Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Friday, memorializing a previous emergency declaration he made in July for dangerous fire conditions on the Western Slope. The National Guard has been brought in to help with the fire operations.
This is a developing story that will be updated.