News
Massive Colorado Wildfires Continue to Expand, Lee Fire Tops 120,000 Acres
<p data-start="219" data-end="398">Several large wildfires are still burning across western Colorado, with the biggest — the Lee Fire near Meeker — now surpassing 120,000 acres and showing little sign of slowing.</p>
<h2 data-start="400" data-end="432">Lee Fire’s Relentless Advance</h2>
<p data-start="434" data-end="590">The Lee Fire, which has been burning in rugged terrain near Meeker, has grown to an estimated 120,650 acres. Containment remains extremely low at just 4%.</p>
<p data-start="592" data-end="763">Fire officials say strong winds and dry conditions have kept crews from gaining much ground. The size of the fire puts it among the largest in the state in recent years.</p>
<p data-start="765" data-end="916">Residents in certain evacuation zones have seen their alerts lowered from “go” to “ready,” but officials stress that conditions could change quickly.</p>
<p data-start="765" data-end="916"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14430" src="https://budgyapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colorado-wildfire-lee-fire-meeker-smoke.jpg" alt="colorado wildfire lee fire meeker smoke" width="754" height="499" /></p>
<h2 data-start="918" data-end="952">Elk Fire Sees Containment Gains</h2>
<p data-start="954" data-end="1180">Not all the news is grim. The Elk Fire, also near Meeker, has grown more stable, with containment climbing to 75%. That’s giving local firefighters some breathing room to shift resources toward other, less controlled blazes.</p>
<p data-start="1182" data-end="1323">The Elk Fire has burned 14,549 acres, much smaller than the Lee Fire, but its proximity to populated areas made it a top priority early on.</p>
<h2 data-start="1325" data-end="1363">Crosho Fire Adds to Regional Strain</h2>
<p data-start="1365" data-end="1579">The Crosho Fire, which broke out on August 11 east of the Lee and Elk fires, has now reached 500 acres. There’s still no official containment figure, making it a wildcard for fire managers already stretched thin.</p>
<p data-start="1581" data-end="1713">Crews are working to keep it from merging with other nearby fires — a scenario that could make an already bad situation far worse.</p>
<h2 data-start="1715" data-end="1765">Turner Gulch and Stoner Mesa Fires Still Active</h2>
<p data-start="1767" data-end="1947">Down in Gateway, the Turner Gulch Fire has burned 29,068 acres and remains 51% contained. Progress has been slow but steady, with firefighters holding lines in several key areas.</p>
<p data-start="1949" data-end="2128">Farther south, the Stoner Mesa Fire near Rico has grown to 7,123 acres with no containment yet reported. The steep, forested terrain is making access difficult for ground crews.</p>
<h2 data-start="2130" data-end="2155">Leroux Fire Nearly Out</h2>
<p data-start="2157" data-end="2348">One bright spot is the Leroux Fire near Hotchkiss. At 195 acres and 90% containment, it’s nearly under control. Barring sudden changes in weather, officials expect to fully contain it soon.</p>
<h2 data-start="2350" data-end="2372">Current Fire Status</h2>
<div class="_tableContainer_1rjym_1">
<div class="_tableWrapper_1rjym_13 group flex w-fit flex-col-reverse" tabindex="-1">
<table class="w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)" data-start="2374" data-end="2828">
<thead data-start="2374" data-end="2424">
<tr data-start="2374" data-end="2424">
<th data-start="2374" data-end="2392" data-col-size="sm">Fire Name</th>
<th data-start="2392" data-end="2409" data-col-size="sm">Acreage Burned</th>
<th data-start="2409" data-end="2424" data-col-size="sm">Containment</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody data-start="2476" data-end="2828">
<tr data-start="2476" data-end="2528">
<td data-start="2476" data-end="2496" data-col-size="sm">Lee Fire (Meeker)</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2496" data-end="2513">120,650</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2513" data-end="2528">4%</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="2529" data-end="2581">
<td data-start="2529" data-end="2549" data-col-size="sm">Elk Fire (Meeker)</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2549" data-end="2566">14,549</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2566" data-end="2581">75%</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="2582" data-end="2647">
<td data-start="2582" data-end="2616" data-col-size="sm">Crosho Fire (Rio Blanco County)</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2616" data-end="2632">500</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2632" data-end="2647">0%</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="2648" data-end="2710">
<td data-start="2648" data-end="2678" data-col-size="sm">Turner Gulch Fire (Gateway)</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2678" data-end="2695">29,068</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2695" data-end="2710">51%</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="2711" data-end="2769">
<td data-start="2711" data-end="2737" data-col-size="sm">Stoner Mesa Fire (Rico)</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2737" data-end="2754">7,123</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2754" data-end="2769">0%</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="2770" data-end="2828">
<td data-start="2770" data-end="2796" data-col-size="sm">Leroux Fire (Hotchkiss)</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2796" data-end="2813">195</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2813" data-end="2828">90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p data-start="2830" data-end="2870"><em data-start="2830" data-end="2868">Data as of 6:00 p.m. August 13, 2025</em></p>
<h2 data-start="2872" data-end="2913">Evacuation Orders Easing in Some Areas</h2>
<p data-start="2915" data-end="3148">The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office announced that evacuation zones one, eight, and nine have been downgraded from “go” to “ready” status. That means residents can return home but should remain prepared to leave at short notice.</p>
<p data-start="3150" data-end="3290">Officials emphasized that this doesn’t mean the danger is over. Shifting winds, new ignitions, or flare-ups could force fresh evacuations.</p>
<h2 data-start="3292" data-end="3339">Firefighting Efforts Facing Tough Conditions</h2>
<p data-start="3341" data-end="3434">Fire crews are battling all six active fires with limited manpower and challenging weather.</p>
<p data-start="3436" data-end="3689">Low humidity, dry fuels, and occasional gusty winds have kept the Lee and Stoner Mesa fires particularly volatile. Helicopters and air tankers are being used where terrain makes ground access impossible, but visibility issues sometimes ground flights.</p>
<p data-start="3691" data-end="3886">“Even with all our resources, these fires have the upper hand right now,” one incident commander admitted. “We just have to keep at it and take opportunities when the weather gives us a break.”</p>
<h2 data-start="3888" data-end="3918">Regional Impact and Outlook</h2>
<p data-start="3920" data-end="4138">Smoke from the Lee Fire has been drifting into neighboring counties, reducing air quality and prompting health advisories. Residents with respiratory issues are being urged to stay indoors and limit outdoor activity.</p>
<p data-start="4140" data-end="4311">With more hot, dry weather in the forecast, fire managers are bracing for the possibility that acreage could continue to climb before significant containment is reached.</p>
<p data-start="4313" data-end="4506">State officials are monitoring the situation closely, coordinating mutual aid from other regions, and keeping federal agencies in the loop in case additional large-scale assistance is needed.</p>
<p data-start="4508" data-end="4626">For now, the message remains the same: stay alert, stay informed, and be ready to move if the fires shift direction.</p>