UPDATE: A more accurate map of the burned area from the Lee fire showed a slight decrease in scorched acres Wednesday, putting the wildfire back as the fifth-largest in state history. Read the latest, here.
Despite monsoonal rain, the Lee fire continues to burn in northwestern Colorado, and it is now the fourth-largest wildfire in Colorado state history.
The blaze was sparked by lightning Aug. 2 and quickly exploded, racing across dry fuels amid very high temperatures and strong winds. The fire, as of Tuesday morning, was estimated at 138,844 acres and considered 90% contained.
The Lee fire surpassed the 2002 Hayman fire, which burned 137,760 acres, and ranks behind the Cameron Peak (208,913 acres), East Troublesome (193,812) and Pine Gulch (139,007) fires in 2020.
Aircraft with infrared technology flew over the burn area on a recent flight to get a clearer picture of the fire’s size, after several previous flights were canceled because of bad weather.
The probability of rain is 100% in the coming days as widespread clouds and rain showers move across the area, fire managers said. Flash flooding could be a risk if thunderstorms develop later Tuesday.
Between 0.15 to 1 inch of rain has fallen on the burned area since Sunday, fire managers said. Heavy rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible with stronger thunderstorms, along with hail, frequent lightning and wind gusts up to 35 mph.
There are about 200 firefighters working the Lee fire, down from more than 1,200 after the fire moved quickly to the south toward Rifle along Colorado 13. In its first week, the Lee fire burned more than 100,000 acres.
At least five houses and 15 outbuildings have been destroyed by the blaze and the Elk Fire east of Meeker, which burned 14,518 and is fully contained.