By Shannon Lukens.
Photos courtesy Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar.
Firefighters responded late Monday afternoon to a fire on US Forest Service land near Crosho Lake in Rio Blanco County. It’s about 10 miles west of Phippsburg. An evacuation order was issued for those in the area, and at the campgrounds there. Late last night, it had burned 20 acres. We will keep you updated.
Photos courtesy Nicholas Cordova with the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office
The Thirteen Fire in Craig is 100% contained, according to the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office. It started Sunday afternoon at a residence, which was destroyed along with three other buildings. A total of 35 acres burned in nearby grasses. Two firefighters from Craig Fire & Rescue were taken to Memorial Regional Health and treated for smoke inhalation and heat-related fatigue. Both were released after treatment.
More on the Story — Updates on the Thirteen Fire from the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office
Aug. 10, 2025 — The fire in Craig has now been renamed the Thirteen Fire
Also from Craig…
Mack Lane from 1st to 2nd Streets is closed in Craig through tomorrow for a water line replacement. No on-street parking.
The Lee and Elk fires continue in Rio Blanco County. The Facebook page for the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office is updating any evacuations, also how much acreage has burned and the percentage of containment . Current conditions are on the Facebook page called Elk and Lee Fire Information.
The Lee Fire started Aug. 2 as a lightning strike. As of late last night, it has burned 113,378 acres with 7 percent containment. The Lee fire is about 11 miles southwest of Meeker.
Lightning also started the Elk Fire on Aug. 2. Sunday evening had it burning 14,635 acres and is about 30 percent contained.
The Twelve Fire is closer to containment at 80% as of Sunday afternoon. About 4,287 acres burned along Hwy 40 in the Elk Springs area of west Moffat County. This is about five miles northwest of Dinosaur.
Information on the Twelve Fire
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect for all in our listening area.
Also, firefighters do not need food and supplies. Donations can be made to local charities or food banks, or groups like the American Red Cross. They will take a wave, a smile, or a thank you.
Check travel in the area at CoTrip.org, which is the Colorado Department of Transportation. Look for the Explore the Map tab. Highway 13 between Meeker and Rifle has been closed.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed the dead cow found in Pitkin County to be a wolf kill. It’s on the Confirmed Gray Wolf Depredation page on the CPW website.
The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners meets this morning. Jeff Comstock has a Natural Resources Department report. Dan Miller has a report from the Road & Bridge Department.
Craig City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Staff reports are from Police Chief Michael Cochran, Parks and Rec projects and events manager Melanie Kilpatrick on the Yampa River Corridor/Craig River Park project, and Public Works Director Danny Paul.
Steamboat Springs City Council has a work session at 5 p.m. today followed by a regular meeting. An update on the Vacancy Tax is on the agenda. A vacant home is a residential unit that is occupied for fewer than 183 days a year. A vacancy tax would impose as much as a $3,100 annual tax on vacant homes that are occupied for less than that amount of time, which would increase taxes for the City of Steamboat Springs by $6.95 million annually.
Link to City Council presentation
In high school activities…
In Moffat County, Trey Woosley is the new Activities/Athletic Director for Moffat County High School. Woosley is a PE/Health teacher and also coached girls basketball and was the head baseball coach for the Bulldogs.
Emily Bogue is an assistant principal at Craig Middle School and will also now be in charge of athletics.
Steamboat Springs High School graduate Ian Anderson has been named the new hockey coach for the state champion Steamboat Sailors Hockey Team starting this next season. Anderson is a 2010 graduate of SSHS.
The Routt County Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Hayden. This morning is the 4-H/FFA Dog Show. Then from 1-7 p.m. is a Taste of the Fair, where you can taste test the entries and there is a bake sale. Then from 5-8 p.m. is Battle of the Bands on the midway. A full schedule is on our website.