Evacuations have been ordered in response to the Derby Fire in Eagle County, which sat at 839 acres, according to data released the morning of Aug. 20.

Residents of Sweetwater Road and areas of the Colorado River Road from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek needed to be out of their homes by noon on Aug. 20. Derby Mesa Loop was in pre-evacuation status. The White River National Forest also issued a public closure for firefighter and public safety in Eagle and Garfield counties near the fire.

The Derby Fire was ignited on Aug. 16 by lightning on an extremely steep cliff face in a remote area near the Flat Tops Wilderness, according to fire managers. Battling it has been difficult, as burning material repeatedly rolled back down the cliff and ignited the fuel below.

The combination of extreme

See Full Page