Meeker self-evacuates as Elk and Lee fires surge past 75,000 acres

By Michael Braithwaite | Denver Gazette

The town of Meeker has been self-evacuated as the nearby Elk and Lee fires surpassed 75,000 combined acres Thursday.

Both started by lightning earlier this week, the twin fires have drastically grown in size over the past several days. On Tuesday, the Lee Fire was estimated to be 7,750 acres and the Elk Fire at 13,025, according to a Facebook post from the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office.

Just four days later, the Lee Fire has grown to nearly 61,000 acres and the Elk Fire to 14,236, the office said. Officials have attributed the significant growth to the fire’s interior being filled in, though crews have not yet reached any containment on either fire.

The blazes’ growth has threatened both the town of Meeker and the Highway 64 corridor to the west, both of which have been directly bordered by the Lee fire, according to an online evacuation zone map.

Located on Colorado’s western slope, Meeker is the most populous municipality in Rio Blanco County, with a total population of just over 2,300 people, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. While mostly a ranching community, the town is also home to U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management recreational areas, which are used for hunting, fishing and other outdoor ventures.

“The town is a little quiet lately, a lot of businesses are currently closed just to stay safe,” Meeker Town Administrator Mandi Etheridge told The Denver Gazette Friday. “It’s scary, but our community is resilient and people will be okay.”

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