Homes and other structures were lost over the weekend as thunderstorms have sparked multiple wildfires in Colorado’s Rio Blanco County and surrounding region. Reports of smoke started coming into the Rio Blanco County Communications Center on Saturday. The lightning-caused Elk Fire is burning approximately 11 miles east of Meeker in pinyon juniper and oak brush and was reported on August 2nd at about 12:30pm. Air and ground crews are working hard on suppression efforts and the public is urged to stay out of the area for their own safety and to avoid interfering with operations. Two houses and one outbuilding have been lost in the Elk Fire and other structures remain threatened. An evacuation order was put in effect for County Road 8 from Mile Marker 11 to Mile Marker 16, impacting both sides of the road. The evacuation location is the Fairfield Center in Meeker. Another wildfire is the Lee Fire, last estimated to be about 100 acres in size, which was sparked by a thunderstorm about 20 miles southwest of Meeker and is burning in pinyon, juniper, and sagebrush. Oil and gas infrastructure is currently threatened in the Magnolia area. The fire is visible from Colorado State Highway 13 and Rio Blanco County Road 5, Piceance Creek Road. The Grease Fire was discovered on August 3rd at approximately 1:50pm. It is burning about 12 miles west of Meeker in the upper end of Rio Blanco County Road 22. As of 4:00pm on Sunday, the Grease Fire is estimated to be 215 acres in size and is burning in pinyon, juniper, grass and brush.
