Progress has been made on wildfires in the region. The Beulah Fire in the High Uintas enjoyed recent rainfall around the perimeter that has dampened fuels and allowed crews to continue structure protection and ongoing efforts. The August 17th evening report of the Beulah Fire reported its size at 4,580 acres. The weather over the weekend slowed down the fire’s growth. The cloud cover, higher humidity and precipitation caused the fire to smolder slowly outward. It should be noted that even with the recent weather, the fire is not extinguished, it has only slowed and with dry weather returning, fire activity will likely increase once again. In western Colorado, the Elk Fire is considered 100% contained at a total of 14,518 acres. The Lee Fire continues to work on containment and was listed on Sunday as 42% contained. The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office downgraded several evacuation zones and firefighters secured containment lines along the north and west edges of the fire perimeter, allowing officials to reopen Highway 13. Firefighters will continue to mop up to remove heat and strengthen firelines. Crews are working to protect structures and other valuables at risk while reinforcing containment lines.
