Unfortunately, conditions continue to make battling the large wildfires in western Colorado quite difficult. The Twelve Fire in Moffat County is 80% contained on 4,287 acres while the Thirteen Fire is 100% contained at 35 acres. The Thirteen Fire started as a structure fire that spread to nearby fields, burning down 4 structures and sending 2 firefighters to the hospital. The Elk Fire is labeled at 75% containment on 14,549 acres and the Lee Fire is listed at 4% containment on 120,650 acres. That is a slight decrease in previous containment. “While we’ve seen significant progress on the Elk Fire, [Wednesday] brings critical fire weather, meaning conditions will make fire activity more likely and harder to control,” shares Tuesday’s announcement. “Winds will shift and increase from the west/northwest, temperatures will rise into the low 90s, and humidity will drop into the single digits. These factors could produce tall smoke plumes, erratic surface winds, and an increased risk of spotting, especially near Highway 13. In preparation, crews on both fires will work through the night with heavy equipment to strengthen and secure lines, check for heat, and address interior hot spots identified by infrared flights.”
