Wildfires are approaching the fifth largest flame in Colorado history.
Gifford Fire will become California’s biggest flame in 2025
Gifford Fire burns more than 114,000 acres in the Rospadres National Forest.
Colorado prisons have been evacuated due to a rapidly growing wildfire.
The continued spread of Lee Fire in western Colorado forced 179 incarcerated individuals at the Rifle Correction Center on August 9 to move to Buena Vista Correctional Facility, a news release from the Colorado Department of Corrections said. No injuries have been reported at the prison, located about 70 miles northeast of Grand Junction, Colorado, but all inmates moved outside the fire area “from abundant attention.”
Lee Fire, which began on August 2, quickly burned more than 106,700 acres, according to the latest information from Inciweb, a government website that monitors wildfires. The flame reached 6% containment.
Firefighters are fighting near-critical fire weather, including reduced humidity and periods of gusts. Despite the low temperature, the fire is supported by dry vegetation and steep slopes.
The flame burned more than 108,000 acres in the 2018 Spring Creek Fire, the fifth largest in state history. All 20 biggest fires in Colorado have occurred in the past 25 years, according to the state’s state of fire prevention and control.
The cause of the Lee fire has not yet been determined. In the fire summary, Inciweb said the final formation of Lee and Grease fire was “discovered after lightning struck by the Pikuance area’s Land Management Bureau on August 2nd.”
“The drought, with severe and extreme weather conditions, with multi-day red flag warnings and increased fire activity, has grown to over 100,000 acres over eight days,” Inciweb said.
Several western states, including Colorado, are fighting big wildfires. California has had its biggest fire of 2025, according to Inciweb.
Eduardo Quebus is based in New York City. Contact him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or by signalling emcuevas.01.
