4 days ago
Crews make progress on Elk Fire burning in Colorado while Lee Fire continues to be challenging
Crews continue to make progress on two large wildfires burning in Western Colorado, although fire officials said one continues to be challenging. Fire officials with the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 provided an update on the Elk and Lee fires burning near Meeker.
The Lee Fire continues to grow, according to fire officials, and has burned 116,859 acres as of Tuesday afternoon with 6% containment. The Lee Fire is the fifth-largest single wildfire in Colorado history.
According to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3, the drought with severe and extreme weather conditions, along with multiple days of red flag warnings and heightened fire activity, caused the Lee fire to grow over 100,000 acres in eight days. Fire crews have been working to find areas of opportunity in the southern area of the fire to reduce its spread.
"Around the town of Meeker, we have that pretty locked in and secured, that's where our containment for the fire is showing that, that was a priority for us," said Tyler Nathy, Operations Section Chief with the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3.
The Elk Fire has burned 14,549 acres with a 30% containment. Officials said there are 1,234 personnel on the fire with combined resources of helicopters, drones, fixed wing, hand crews, engines and heavy equipment.
"Crews are making progress getting around that fire, securing the line and making sure the homes at risk over there are no longer threatened," said Nathy. "A lot of good work is going in out there."
The Elk and Lee fires were caused by lightning on Aug. 2.
