Rio Blanco officials report ~4,000 acres burned, reinforce County Road 8 closure as state assumes command

Rio Blanco County emergency officials reported on Aug. 4 that three lightning-caused fires — the Elk, Lee and Grease fires — have burned roughly 4,000 acres and threatened residences near County Road 8, prompting evacuations, sheltering support and a continued road closure.

Sheriff Anthony Mazzola said the fires began Saturday after a lightning strike and “we had 20 mile an hour winds that just took that fire and ran it amazingly fast.” He said the county was “literally fighting the fire on the County Road 8,” and that the closure remains necessary because engines and support vehicles are using the road to transport water and fuel.

The county said the state, acting at the governor—s direction, has assumed command of the incident so state-level resources and cost-share apply. Mazzola said the state took command around midnight Saturday and that a Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) will stage at the county fairgrounds and is scheduled to brief at 20:00 and take over the Elk Fire at 06:00 the following morning.

Why it matters: the three fires grew quickly in dry fuels and windy conditions, threatened homes and infrastructure, and disrupted power and road access for residents in the affected area. County leaders emphasized public safety, shelter readiness and clearly identified channels for official updates.

Most significant details

- Size and cause: Officials estimated the combined burn area at about 4,000 acres and said the fires were caused by lightning.

- Evacuations and damage: Sheriff Mazzola said about 50 homes were evacuated, and he reported observing four structures lost (two residences and two outbuildings), while stressing those figures were approximate and could change as assessments continue.

- Command and incident management: The state (Division of Fire Prevention and Control and related incident-management resources) assumed command; a CIMT will stage at the fairgrounds, and the local type 3 incident command team was reassigned to the Lee and Grease fires.

- Road and utilities: County Road 8 remains closed while crews operate along the route. Officials reported multiple power poles burned and power outages up to the end of pavement near Miller Creek; Rural electric crews (REA/Weber Electric referenced) will evaluate and repair lines once safe to do so.

- Sheltering and human services: Department of Human Services and Public Health staff set up a shelter and coordinated with the Red Cross; staff said eight families checked in for welfare checks and contact information, and the shelter was available if needed. Carmen McKay of Rio Blanco County Department of Human Services and Mikayla Sheridan, the county public health director, were listed as coordinating those efforts.

- Resources on scene: Mazzola said roughly 90 firefighters were working the Elk Fire on the day of the meeting and that local volunteer departments, including Meeker Volunteer Fire Department and the Eastern Rio Blanco County Fire Protection District under Chief Luke Pioni Faloni, played key roles in protecting residents during initial evacuations.

Discussion and operational directions

- Public-safety messaging: County leaders urged residents to sign up for Rio Blanco Alerts (the county—s reverse-911 system) because unregistered cell phones may not receive evacuation calls. Officials also discussed IPAWS (the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) as an option to reach people who have not registered but said IPAWS would be used cautiously to avoid unnecessary alerts outside the affected area.

- Animal evacuations and local support: Officials confirmed large-animal evacuations were completed for the most at-risk properties; a local resident offered corrals for horses and livestock on the east side of the fire if additional space is needed.

- Next steps: County staff and incident command teams planned to prioritize spotting fires on the south side of the river and to secure spots that had crossed ridgelines. The CIMT—s planned takeover and briefings were emphasized as key to stabilizing operations and enabling the county to transition from immediate response to longer-term recovery coordination.

Quotes

"This fire started on, Saturday. It was lightning caused," Sheriff Anthony Mazzola said. "We are literally fighting the fire on the County Road 8. We've got engines on the road, going back and forth, getting water, getting fuel. We can't have the public going through there."

"The state took over the fire, midnight Saturday night," Mazzola said, adding that the state has backdated the assumption so it is financially responsible for the fire response.

County statement read by a commissioner thanked responders and asked residents to avoid County Road 8; the statement said officials believe they "have the resources needed to manage the situation," while asking for continued public patience and adherence to official updates.

Ending

County officials said they will continue to update the public through the incident command team and the county website; they reiterated that County Road 8 will remain closed until crews complete critical work and it is safe to reopen. Officials asked residents to register for Rio Blanco Alerts and follow official incident command communications for the latest information.