Colorado’s Lee Fire Rages Uncontained, Forcing Mass Evacuations and Becoming State’s Sixth Largest

A massive wildfire, dubbed the Lee Fire, continues to rage across Colorado’s Western Slope, forcing widespread mandatory evacuations in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. Exploding in size over Friday and Saturday, the blaze has scorched an estimated 88,755 acres (139 square miles), making it the sixth-largest wildfire ever recorded in Colorado with zero containment.

The rapidly evolving situation has prompted new evacuation orders along the Colorado 13 corridor, from the White River near Meeker south into Garfield County, including areas like Rio Blanco County Road 5, Willow Creek, and gulches west of Colorado 13. Officials also initiated the evacuation of 192 inmates from the Rifle Correctional Center due to the approaching flames.

Fire officials report intense fire behavior, fueled by critical red flag conditions including high winds, low humidity, and hot weather. The Lee Fire even generated its own weather system on Friday, sending a pyrocumulus cloud 30,000 feet into the sky, further exacerbating conditions. While Saturday afternoon saw a slight decrease in intensity, the fire’s relentless southward push towards Garfield County remains a major concern for the 1,245 firefighters and personnel battling the blaze.

Crews are prioritizing the protection of structures and critical infrastructure, including vital oil and gas pipelines southwest of the fire’s footprint. No injuries or structural damage have been reported so far. Meanwhile, smoke from the Lee Fire provided enough shade for crews to gain 8% containment on the nearby Elk Fire, holding it to 14,502 acres as of Saturday.

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