Colorado wildfires: Containment grows on Lee fire as burn area approaches fourth largest on record

One wildfire burning on Colorado s Western Slope is less than acres away from becoming the state s fourth-largest fire on record The -acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle in Rio Blanco County is Colorado s fifth-largest wildfire Colorado s fourth-largest fire on record the -acre Hayman fire that sparked in is only acres larger than the Lee fire The Lee fire is also just over acres from surpassing the -acre Pine Gulch fire from Colorado s third-largest wildfire Jump to Lee and Elk fires Stoner Mesa fire Crosho fire Hot spots from the Lee fire flare along W Highway in Rio Blanco County about miles outside of Meeker Colorado on Friday Aug Photo by Andy Cross The Denver Post Lee and Elk fires near Meeker The lightning-sparked Lee and Elk fires started on opposite sides of Meeker in Rio Blanco County more than two weeks ago and have together consumed hundreds of square miles As of Sunday night the -acre Lee fire was contained It s in the present the fifth-largest wildfire on record in Colorado and approaching the fourth-place position according to the state s Division of Fire Prevention and Control Saturday afternoon rain showers helped firefighters gain control of the -acre Elk fire and increase containment lines around the Lee fire Warmer and drier weather returned Sunday and is forecast throughout the week Temperatures will peak in the s mid-week as relative humidities drop back into the single digits meteorologist Julie Malingowski disclosed during a Saturday night district meeting in Meeker There will be no precipitation or chance of thunderstorms from Monday through Wednesday she announced Moisture will begin to return on Thursday but rain showers aren t expected until Saturday The Elk fire is fully contained but wind could send embers over the fire line and create spot fires fire authorities explained The fire is still burning inside the containment lines The wildfire burn areas are closed to the citizens and multiple zones on the Lee fire s southern edge remain under mandatory evacuation orders Previously evacuated areas surrounding both the Lee and Elk fires were moved back to pre-evacuation status fire authorities declared Updated evacuation and pre-evacuation orders for Rio Blanco and Garfield counties are available online The two wildfires have destroyed five homes and outbuildings Fire leaders noted the blazes were challenging to fight because of steep terrain gusty winds heat and extreme drought Smoke fills part of the San Juan National Forest as firefighters battle the Stoner Mesa fire on Friday Aug Photo provided by Stoner Mesa Fire Information Stoner Mesa fire near Dolores A wildfire burning in the San Juan National Forest in western Colorado has consumed more than acres with no containment The lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa fire was last mapped at acres in Dolores County fire administrators disclosed Sunday Flying embers also sparked multiple spot fires near the main burn area that firefighters are battling The nearby town of Rico remains on pre-evacuation status and parts of the national forest are closed to the population because of the fire The Crosho fire burns on more than acres in Rio Blanco County Photo provided by Crosho Fire Information Crosho fire near Yampa More than structures are threatened by a wildfire burning in western Colorado but none have yet been destroyed fire administrators reported The -acre Crosho fire burning on the limit of Rio Blanco and Routt counties west of Yampa is contained fire leaders disclosed Sunday night Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect north of the blaze and the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests are closed around the fire according to the U S Forest Institution Multiple evacuation orders were canceled Sunday morning moving areas south and east of the fire onto pre-evacuation status Residents should be prepared to re-evacuate if fire activity escalates Updated Routt County evacuation maps are available online This is a emerging story and may be updated Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter