County updates: Lee Fire response, fair turnout and fairgrounds available for livestock
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Summary
County staff reported ongoing Lee Fire coordination with Rio Blanco incident command, announced a public meeting and said the county can provide fairgrounds stalls for displaced livestock; commissioners also praised a successful county fair and concert.
Garfield County staff briefed commissioners on wildfire coordination and fair operations during the Aug. 11 meeting.
Emergency management and road & bridge staff described continued coordination with the Lee (Elk) Fire incident command in Rio Blanco County. The county said incident command remains in Meeker but is setting up a satellite incident command in Rifle; emergency management will share situational updates and available county assets through Emergency Manager Chris Bornholt. A public meeting on the Lee Fire was scheduled for that evening at Colorado Mountain College in Brid al (public notice recorded by staff).
County staff said the fairgrounds could serve as a resource for livestock sheltering and described stalls and trailer space that could be made available for displaced animals; staff will coordinate with Rio Blanco authorities and local animal owners. Officials thanked local volunteers, Road & Bridge and fair staff for a fair that drew large attendance — county staff reported the Friday concert sold out and overall attendance increases — and noted logistics had been successful despite smoke and weather challenges.
Commissioners praised fair staff and volunteers for the event execution. County staff said final attendance and budget numbers would be reported back to the board once tabulated.