Lee Fire
| Lee Fire | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2025 Colorado wildfires | |
| File:Lee Fire Colorado August 2025.jpg Lee Fire in August of 2025 | |
| Date(s) | August 2, 2025 – September 16, 2025 (45 days) |
| Location | Meeker, Colorado |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Statistics | |
| Perimeter | 100% contained |
| Burned area | 137,758 acres (55,749 ha) |
| Impacts | |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Map | |
| <mapframe zoom="9" text="Perimeter of the Lee Fire (map data)" align="center" height="200" latitude="39.87" longitude="-108.07" width="300">{"properties":{"stroke-width":6,"stroke":"#ff0000","title":"Lee Fire"},"type":"ExternalData","title":"2025 United States wildfires.map","service":"page"}</mapframe> | |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 411: Malformed coordinates value. | |
The Lee Fire was an extremely large wildfire that burned near Meeker, Colorado that began on August 2, 2025. The fire reached 100% containment on September 16, at a size of 137,758 acres (55,749 ha; 215 sq mi).[1][2][3]
It is the fourth largest wildfire in Colorado history and the third largest wildfire in the United States during the 2025 wildfire season.[4][5]
Fire history
[edit | edit source]This section needs to be updated. (November 2025) |
August
[edit | edit source]The Lee Fire was first reported on August 2, 2025, at around 4:59 pm MST.[2]
On August 5, 2025, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a state of emergency for four wildfires burning in western Colorado, including the Lee Fire, which had merged overnight with a second lightning-caused fire to grow to 14,000 acres (5,700 ha).[6] On August 7, the Governor mobilized the National Guard as part of "mobilizing every available resource to protect lives and property."[7] The fire had grown to 45,000 acres (18,000 ha), becoming the then-largest wildfire in Colorado. It remained at 0% contained as strong winds advanced the fire on several fronts, after making large runs on August 6, sometimes advancing about 1 mph (1.6 km/h). On the same day, "a large smoke cloud collapsed causing the fire to jump Colorado 13 and rapidly consume 100 acres before firefighting aircraft could get ahead of it."[7]
On 6–7 August, firefighters focused on slowing the advance to the north, and positioning to protect houses and structures, as the fire was threatening the town of Meeker.[7] By the 9th, more focus had been added to the south side of the fire to try to protect structures in that area as the fire had rapidly expanded southward.[8]
The active fire perimeter was 61,600 acres (24,900 ha) on August 8,[2] growing to 88,800 acres (35,900 ha) by August 9, still with 0% contained.[8][9]
By Sunday August 10, one week after the fire started, the fire perimeter had expanded to 106,700 acres (43,200 ha) with the interagency fire service stating that six percent containment had been achieved.[10] Fire area growth had slowed by August 11, with 113,000 acres, 7000 acres more than the day before, but less expansion than any of the five previous days. "The containment line for the Lee fire is on the northeastern corner of the fire, closest to Meeker," and is now 7% contained.[5]
September
[edit | edit source]| [icon] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2025) |
![[icon]](/index.php/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=link}
On September 16, 100% containment was achieved on the Lee Fire.[1]
Cause
[edit | edit source]The cause of the fire is believed to be due to lightning.[11]
Impact
[edit | edit source]Closures and evacuations
[edit | edit source]The city of Meeker, Colorado was placed on pre-evacuation notice on August 7, and Colorado State Highway 13 was closed for 50+ miles south of Meeker, closing one of only three routes out of town.[12][needs update]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Elk Fire - Another wildfire also burning near Meeker, Colorado
- 2025 United States wildfires
- 2025 Colorado wildfires
- List of Colorado wildfires
References
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