Colorado Updates: Latest Developments in the State's News Circuit
The Elk and Lee fires, currently burning near the Western Slope town of Meeker, Colorado, continue to pose a significant challenge for firefighting personnel. As of August 12–13, 2025, the latest verified data reveals the current status of these two major wildfires.
The Lee Fire, which started from a lightning strike around August 2, has grown to approximately 120,650 acres and is about 4% contained. This makes it the 5th largest wildfire in Colorado history, with a fire perimeter exceeding 170 miles. On the other hand, the Elk Fire, ignited first near Middle Creek, has burned about 14,549 acres and is significantly more contained at 75% as of August 12 evening.
Over 1,000 firefighting personnel are actively engaged in managing both fires, with ongoing strategies adapting to weather and fire behavior conditions.
Authorities continue to manage evacuation and provide updates to the community, including public meetings held in Rifle, Colorado. However, it is not clear if any evacuation orders remain in effect for areas other than the five zones mentioned. The exact locations of these zones where mandatory evacuations were downgraded are not specified.
Rio Blanco County officials lifted some mandatory evacuation and pre-evacuation orders on Friday afternoon. Notably, the town of Meeker, with a population of 2,400, was moved from a "set" or yellow pre-evacuation status to a "ready" or green status at 12:20 p.m. on Friday.
It is important to note that the Elk and Lee fires are still active and burning in the area. Mile High Roundup, a service that delivers updates on Colorado's top stories to subscribers' inboxes, continues to provide the latest information on these fires. Subscribers agree to the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and receive emails from the website upon signing up.
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- Despite the progress made in containing the Elk Fire, the combined challenges posed by the Elk and Lee fires in Colorado necessitate ongoing adaptation of firefighting policies to accommodate changing weather and fire behavior conditions.
- Simultaneously, while the weather-forecasting data is crucial in guiding firefighting strategies, it is equally important for local authorities to implement and communicate updated political decisions regarding evacuation orders, keeping the community informed and safe.
