Willow Firenear Lake County, CO

As of Oct 27, 2026, 3:59 PM MDT: The U.S. Small Business Administration has made low-interest federal disaster loans available to Colorado communities affected by the Willow Fire, among other disasters, following a disaster declaration request from Governor Jared Polis on Oct. 22.

• The Willow Fire disaster declaration covers the period June 28 – Sept. 16, 2026 (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Eligible small businesses and private nonprofits in Chaffee, Eagle, Lake, Park, Pitkin, and Summit counties may apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans related to the Willow Fire (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster, even if the business or nonprofit suffered no physical damage (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Loan amounts can be up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits, with terms up to 30 years (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Interest does not accrue and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The deadline to return economic injury applications for the Willow Fire declaration is July 23, 2027 (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Applications can be submitted online at sba.gov/disaster or by calling (866) SBA-HELP (per Ouray County Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Sep 15, 2026, 12:18 PM MDT: The Willow Fire, which started June 28, has been largely contained following a multi-agency response. As of September 10, the fire stood at 7,389 acres and 80% contained, with no structures destroyed.

• The fire started on June 28, 2026 (per @COStateFire · X).
• It became state responsibility from July 2 to July 31 (per @COStateFire · X).
• As of September 10, the fire was mapped at 7,389 acres (per @COStateFire · X).
• As of September 10, the fire was 80% contained (per @COStateFire · X).
• The fire has burned on land owned by a mix of entities, including USFS, USFWS, Private, and BLM (per @COStateFire · X).
• No structures were destroyed (per @COStateFire · X).
• During the state responsibility period, DFPC provided overhead resources including Agency Administrators, administrative and financial oversight, and intelligence products including imaging, mapping, and fire behavior modeling (per @COStateFire · X).
• Governor Polis visited Leadville on September 14 to hear from local first responders and community leaders about the fire's impact (per @COStateFire · X).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Sep 10, 2026, 7:54 AM MDT: The Willow Fire, located 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, has grown to 7,534 acres and is 80% contained. Fire behavior increased today with additional activity on the western flank.

• Size: 7,534 acres (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Location: 6 miles west of Leadville, CO (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Cause: Human-caused (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Containment: 80% (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Fire behavior: Burning in timber litter with areas of mixed conifer and open Lodgepole stands, in an area with no recorded fire history; activity increased today on the western flank (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Smoke: May be seen at times due to winds affecting pockets of burning within the fire footprint, especially on the western side; no significant smoke impacts to nearby communities are expected (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Tactics: Firefighters are maintaining containment lines; uncontrolled sections remain in the wilderness area due to hazardous conditions and rough terrain, with low spread potential; a multi-mission aircraft will fly over the fire today (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Closure: The Willow Fire Closure Order is in effect through September 30, 2026, unless rescinded sooner; the order affects NFS lands on the Leadville Ranger District and was signed and issued August 19, 2026, with implementation beginning August 21, 2026 at 12:01 am (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook; per Leadville Ranger District/USDA Forest Service closure order)
• Violations of the closure order are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, with fines up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or imprisonment up to six months, or both (per Leadville Ranger District/USDA Forest Service closure order)
• Affected recreation sites include Highline/Native Lake Trail #1489 and Colorado Trail #1776 (Segment 11) at Mount Massive Trailhead (per Leadville Ranger District/USDA Forest Service closure order)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Aug 5, 2026, 11:08 AM MDT: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over Lake County for the Willow Fire has been lifted.

• The TFR that was in place over Lake County for the Willow Fire has been lifted and airspace is now open, including for drone operations (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Aug 1, 2026, 9:36 AM MDT: The Willow Fire, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, continues to be actively managed with the majority of its perimeter now contained.

• The fire is currently 7,196 acres and 67% contained, with 186 total personnel assigned (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• The fire started on June 28, 2026 (per Wildfire news article).
• The managing agency is the U.S. Forest Service (per Wildfire news article).
• Considerable rain fell across the fire area through the previous evening. Suppression repair remains the primary focus along the north, east, and southern portions of the fire's perimeter (per Wildfire news article).
• In the north, firefighters continue indirect containment operations, supported by roughly 15,000 feet of hose now in place (per Wildfire news article).
• Within the Mount Massive Wilderness, Wildland Fire Modules are addressing remaining areas of heat, which included an estimated 300–500 spot fires (per Wildfire news article).
• Forest roads within the fire perimeter are closed to the public; main thoroughfares remain open. Motorists should remain alert for increased fire traffic in the Willow Fire area (per Wildfire news article).
• A forest area closure is in effect beginning July 30, 2026 at 2 p.m. and lasting until September 30, 2026, unless rescinded. Closed recreation sites and trails include: Mount Massive Wilderness, Windsor Lake Trail #1490, Highline/Native Lake Trail #1489, North Mount Elbert Trail #1484, Willow Creek Trailhead, North Halfmoon Creek Trail #1485 (Mount Massive), Elbert Creek Campground, Halfmoon East Campground, and Halfmoon West Campground (per Wildfire news article).
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect over the fire area; private aircraft or drones violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges (per Wildfire news article).
• For current evacuation and road closure information, follow Lake County Office of Emergency Management at Lakecountyco.gov (per Wildfire news article).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 31, 2026, 9:08 AM MDT: The Willow Fire has impacted the Lake County community, and recovery efforts are underway.

• A Community Resilience Event is scheduled for Monday, August 3 at Fire Station 2 from 6–8 PM, where fire and land management agencies, non-profits, recovery specialists, mental-health support, and small business and rebuilding resources will be available (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 30, 2026, 2:10 PM MDT: The Willow Fire remains an active incident in Lake County. Containment has reached 66% and all remaining evacuation zones have been reduced to pre-evacuation status as of this afternoon.

• The fire is 66% contained as of the morning of July 30 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The closure area for the fire has been significantly reduced. A new closure is effective July 30, 2026 at 2 p.m. and lasts until September 30, 2026, unless rescinded (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The following recreation sites and trails remain closed: Mount Massive Wilderness, Windsor Lake Trail #1490, Highline/Native Lake Trail #1489, North Mount Elbert Trail #1484, Willow Creek Trailhead, North Halfmoon Creek Trail #1485 (Mount Massive), Elbert Creek Campground, Halfmoon East Campground, and Halfmoon West Campground (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• All remaining evacuation zones have been reduced to pre-evacuation status (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Zone 21B has been expanded to include County Road 9 and sections of County Road 4. Residents within the updated Zone 21B are no longer under pre-evacuation status and are now under no evacuation status (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Salamander cards are required for re-entry into all pre-evacuation zones (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Road closures currently in effect: The Fish Hatchery and the roads leading to it, County Road 9 at the May Queen campground, and Halfmoon Road are all closed (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Open to property owners and residents only: County Road 4 west of Turquoise Lake Dam, County Road 5A, and Highway 300 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• May Queen campground is open (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Residents are encouraged to remain aware of changing conditions, monitor official updates, and be prepared to take action if conditions change (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 29, 2026, 9:47 AM MDT: The Willow Fire is burning at 7,196 acres and is now 64% contained, with nearly two-thirds of the fire's perimeter secured.

• Size: 7,196 acres (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Containment: 64% (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Total personnel assigned: 239 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Full fire updates are being provided every other day (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Additional information is available on the Willow Fire InciWeb page; the fire is managed under the U.S. Forest Service – PSICC National Forest (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 28, 2026, 10:52 AM MDT: The Willow Fire in Lake County is 62% contained at 7,196 acres, with firefighters continuing to make excellent progress around the perimeter.

• Size: 7,196 acres (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Containment: 62% (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Personnel: 272 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Sunday evening rainfall provided helpful moisture across the incident, allowing crews to better address lingering pockets of heat, especially in the west and southwest areas near the Mount Massive Wilderness (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• On the east side, near the fish hatchery, crews are removing hose and backhauling equipment from the fireline (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Along the east and south portions, firefighters and Resource Advisors are advancing suppression repair work in alignment with standards established by the Pike-San Isabel National Forests (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Isolated pockets of unburned fuel inside the fire footprint continue to smolder but are not threatening containment (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Daily fire updates will shift to being provided every other day (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The public is reminded to stay out of Forest Closure areas, as entry impedes fire operations and poses significant risk (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 27, 2026, 7:00 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is an active incident in Lake County, Colorado, with a majority of the fire located on U.S. Forest Service land. Due to the fire's size, complexity, and location, outside resources are being utilized to support Lake County.

• The fire is described as large and complex, with a majority of the burn area on U.S. Forest Service land (per Lakecountyco).
• Local, regional, state, and federal partners are supporting the response, including equipment, investigators, first responders, incident management teams, and emergency operations administration personnel (per Lakecountyco).
• Residents are being advised on propane safety precautions in preparation for possible evacuation, including shutting off outdoor propane supplies, clearing combustible materials at least 10 feet from tanks and grills, keeping grills and portable propane cylinders at least 10 feet from structures, and never storing propane cylinders in enclosed spaces (per Lakecountyco).
• Officials note the flow of information is being reduced, but any significant changes will be shared as quickly as possible (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook and Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• An FAQ page is available at lakecountyco.gov/599/Willow-Fire (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 26, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT: The Willow Fire, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, is 62% contained at 7,196 acres with 350 personnel assigned. California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 is transferring command to Wyoming Team 3 starting tomorrow at 7:00 AM.

• Size: 7,196 acres (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook; per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Containment: 62% (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook; per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Personnel: 350 total assigned (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook; per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Command transfer: Wyoming Team 3 takes command July 27, 2026 at 7:00 AM; this was the final update from California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook; per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Fire origin: Started June 28, 2026 (per Wildfire news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• Firefighting activity: The San Juan Interagency Hotshot Crew completed a key section of handline in the Bald Eagle Mountain area, securing the northern perimeter; no heat was detected within 200 feet of the control line on the east side; a Wildland Fire Module is extinguishing spot fires and strengthening containment lines in the southwest corner of the Mount Massive Wilderness; suppression repair is ongoing from the northeast through the southeast portions of the fire (per Wildfire news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• Forest area closure: The Willow Fire Area Closure has been reduced to a smaller portion of the Leadville Ranger District and is in effect from July 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM through September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded earlier (per Wildfire news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• Road closures: Forest roads within the fire perimeter are closed to the public; main thoroughfares remain open; motorists should expect increased fire traffic (per Wildfire news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect over the fire area; drone violations may result in criminal charges (per Wildfire news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• For current evacuation and closure information, follow the Lake County Office of Emergency Management (per Wildfire news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 26, 2026, 11:31 AM MDT: The Willow Fire is burning approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, and has reached 7,196 acres at 59% containment, with crews making steady progress across multiple areas of the fire.

• Size: 7,196 acres (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and COEmergency · Facebook)
• Containment: 59% (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and COEmergency · Facebook)
• Personnel: 414 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook and COEmergency · Facebook)
• Fire start: June 28, 2026, approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO (per Wildfire · news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• Jurisdiction: U.S. Forest Service (per Wildfire · news article)
• Northern perimeter: The San Juan Interagency Hotshot Crew completed a key section of handline in the Bald Eagle Mountain area, securing an important piece of the fire's northern perimeter (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• East side: Firefighters are using indirect containment strategies from the powerline road down to the fish hatchery and into the bottom of Willow Creek; no heat was detected within 200 feet of the control line yesterday, and mop-up continues (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Southwest corner: A Wildland Fire Module is actively extinguishing spot fires, addressing pockets of heat, and strengthening containment lines in the Mount Massive Wilderness (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Suppression repair is a larger focus across the incident, particularly from the northeast through the southeast portions of the fire (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Road closures: Forest roads within the fire perimeter are closed to the public; main thoroughfares remain open. Motorists should remain alert for increased fire traffic in the Willow Fire area (per Wildfire · news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• Forest area closure: The Willow Fire Area Closure has been reduced to a smaller portion of the Leadville Ranger District. The order is in effect from July 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM through September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded earlier. Violations are subject to fines (per Wildfire · news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect; drones and private aircraft violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges (per Wildfire · news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)
• Evacuations: For current evacuation information, follow Lake County Office of Emergency Management at lakecountyco.gov (per Wildfire · news article, citing U.S. Forest Service InciWeb)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 26, 2026, 7:01 AM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted an expanded Pre-Evacuation Notice and road closures in Lake County. The Lake County Sheriff's Office is coordinating with the California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 on the response.

• The Pre-Evacuation Notice has been expanded to include areas east of County Road 300 into Zone 21C (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook and Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• County Road 300 and County Road 5A are closed to public travel; access is restricted to residents and fire personnel only (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook and Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Due to the size, complexity, and location of the Willow Fire, with a majority of the fire on U.S. Forest Service land, outside resources are being utilized to support the response, including local, regional, state, and federal partners, along with equipment, investigators, first responders, incident management teams, and emergency operations administration personnel (per Lakecountyco · news article).
• Residents preparing for possible evacuation are advised to take propane safety precautions, including clearing combustible materials at least 10 feet from tanks and grills, keeping portable propane cylinders at least 10 feet from structures, and never storing propane cylinders in enclosed spaces (per Lakecountyco · news article).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 24, 2026, 7:41 PM MDT: The Willow Fire, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, is 58% contained with crews actively working to secure firelines across multiple areas of the fire.

• Size: 7,196 acres (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Containment: 58% (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Personnel: 467 total assigned (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The fire started on June 28, 2026; Southwest Area Team 4, led by Incident Commander Andrew Mandell, assumed command at 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026 (per Wildfire · news article)
• Light precipitation fell over the fire area measuring upwards of 0.13 inches; crews continue to build depth and secure firelines in the area toward the fish hatchery (per Wildfire · news article)
• Minimal impact direct extinguishment strategies are being utilized in the Mount Massive Wilderness to contain the western edge, addressing spot fires as they occur (per Wildfire · news article)
• Suppression repair work is taking place in the Bald Eagle Mountain and fish hatchery/Arkansas River areas; crews continue working in the Halfmoon Creek area with chipping along the contingency line (per Wildfire · news article)
• The Willow Fire Area Closure has been reduced to a smaller portion of the Leadville Ranger District; the closure order is in effect from July 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM through September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded earlier (per Wildfire · news article)
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect; private aircraft or drones violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges (per Wildfire · news article)
• For current evacuation and closure information, follow the Lake County Office of Emergency Management; the public is asked to avoid the areas of Mt. Massive and Hagerman Pass (per Wildfire · news article)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 24, 2026, 11:53 AM MDT: The Willow Fire is burning approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, with firefighting operations ongoing across multiple areas of the fire. California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 Operations Section Chief Jason Flores presented an operational update on July 24, 2026.

• The Willow Fire is located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, and started on June 28, 2026. Southwest Area Team 4, led by Incident Commander Andrew Mandell, assumed command at 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026. (per Wildfire · news article)
• Light precipitation fell over the fire area measuring upwards of 0.13 inches. (per Wildfire · news article)
• In the area toward the fish hatchery, crews continue to build depth and secure firelines. (per Wildfire · news article)
• Minimal impact direct extinguishment strategies in the Mount Massive Wilderness are being utilized by crews to contain the western edge, addressing spot fires as they occur. (per Wildfire · news article)
• Interior unburned islands continue to be consumed. (per Wildfire · news article)
• Suppression repair work is taking place in the Bald Eagle Mountain and fish hatchery/Arkansas River areas. (per Wildfire · news article)
• Crews continue to work in the Halfmoon Creek area with chipping along the contingency line. (per Wildfire · news article)
• The Willow Fire Area Closure has been reduced to a smaller portion of the Leadville Ranger District. The closure order is in effect from July 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM through September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded earlier. Persons violating the closure order are subject to fines. (per Wildfire · news article)
• The public is asked to respect closures and evacuation areas and avoid the area of Mt. Massive and Hagerman Pass. For current closure and evacuation information, follow the Lake County Office of Emergency Management. (per Wildfire · news article)
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect. Private aircraft or drones violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges. (per Wildfire · news article)
• An operational update video from California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 Operations Section Chief Jason Flores is available. (per Lake County, CO Government · Facebook; Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 22, 2026, 2:00 PM MDT: The Willow Fire, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, continues active suppression operations. Evacuation orders are being lifted and Lake County residents are beginning to return home.

• The Willow Fire started on June 28, 2026, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO (per Wildfire news article).
• Southwest Area Team 4, led by Incident Commander Andrew Mandell, assumed command at 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026 (per Wildfire news article).
• California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 Operations Section Chief Jason Flores presented an operational update on July 22, 2026 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Strong southeast winds tested the fire; however, firelines held and the fire footprint remains unchanged (per Wildfire news article).
• Only one to two-tenths of an inch of rain fell on the fire Monday night; fuels dried sufficiently to burn again. A considerable amount of rain will be needed to improve dry conditions (per Wildfire news article).
• Crews completed fireline construction, conducted a firing operation, and mopped up in the Bald Eagle Mountain area (per Wildfire news article).
• In the Halfmoon Creek area, at the southern end of the fire, crews continue to strengthen and improve firelines; chipping of vegetation along contingency lines there is nearing completion (per Wildfire news article).
• Crews are scouting and making progress on fireline construction in the Mount Massive Wilderness (per Wildfire news article).
• Patrol and mop-up operations continue near the Fish Hatchery (per Wildfire news article).
• Fire managers are preparing a fireline suppression repair plan (per Wildfire news article).
• The Willow Fire Area Closure has been reduced to a smaller portion of the Leadville Ranger District. The order is in effect from July 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM through September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded earlier (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The public is asked to respect closures and avoid the areas of Mt. Massive and Hagerman Pass (per Wildfire news article).
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect; private aircraft or drones violating it could face serious criminal charges (per Wildfire news article).
• A majority of the fire is on U.S. Forest Service land; local, regional, state, and federal partners along with equipment, investigators, first responders, incident management teams, and emergency operations administration personnel are supporting Lake County (per Lakecountyco news article).
• Free N95 masks are available at Public Health, 735 Hwy 24, Monday through Friday, 8 AM–5 PM (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 21, 2026, 12:40 PM MDT: The Willow Fire, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, remains active, with crews conducting mop-up, hazard tree removal, and fireline construction across multiple areas. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect, and residents in affected zones are urged to obtain a Salamander Card at the Lake County Public Library.

• The Willow Fire started on June 28, 2026, approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO (per Wildfire · news article).
• Southwest Area Team 4, led by Incident Commander Andrew Mandell, assumed command at 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026 (per Wildfire · news article).
• California Interagency Incident Management Team 8 Operations Section Chief Trainee Forrest Gale presented an operations update on July 21, 2026 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Crews conducted a small firing operation to consume unburned vegetation on the northern portion of the fire to support containment efforts (per Wildfire · news article).
• Fire is slowly consuming vegetation within an island in the Colorado Gulch area but has not threatened control lines (per Wildfire · news article).
• Firefighters are patrolling and removing hazard trees around the Fish Hatchery (per Wildfire · news article).
• The fire continues to smolder in the Bald Mountain area, near the Fish Hatchery, and the southern portion of the fire as crews mop-up and secure the fire's edge (per Wildfire · news article).
• In the Mount Massive Wilderness, where the fire is moving toward sparse, high-elevation fuels, hotshot crews continue to scout and construct fireline (per Wildfire · news article).
• Crews are also working to complete contingency firelines in the Halfmoon Creek area south of the fire (per Wildfire · news article).
• Portions of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests are temporarily closed for public safety; the closure includes portions of the Leadville Ranger District and is in place until Sept. 30, 2026 (per Wildfire · news article).
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect; private aircraft or drones violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges (per Wildfire · news article).
• The public is asked to avoid the areas of Mt. Massive and Hagerman Pass (per Wildfire · news article).
• Residents still within a mandatory evacuation zone can pick up a Salamander Card at the Lake County Public Library (open until 5:00 PM today); a photo ID and proof of residence are required (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Those unable to reach the library due to a significant barrier should call 719-427-0252 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 21, 2026, 10:05 AM MDT: The Willow Fire, located approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, remains an active incident at 7,196 acres and 41% contained. Evacuation zones have been partially downgraded, with some residents now permitted to return. Size and Containment: Fire Origin and Command: Current Fire Behavior and Crew Operations: Evacuations and Re-entry: Road Closures: Forest Closure and Flight Restrictions:

• 7,196 acres, 41% contained, with 690 personnel assigned (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The fire started on June 28, 2026, approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO (per Wildfire · InciWeb)
• Southwest Area Team 4, led by Incident Commander Andrew Mandell, assumed command at 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026 (per Wildfire · InciWeb)
• Crews conducted a small firing operation yesterday to consume unburned vegetation on the northern portion of the fire and support containment efforts (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Fire is slowly consuming vegetation within an island in the Colorado Gulch area but has not threatened control lines (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Firefighters are patrolling and removing hazard trees around the Fish Hatchery (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The fire continues to smolder in the Bald Mountain area, near the Fish Hatchery, and the southern portion of the fire as crews mop up and secure the fire's edge (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• In the higher, steeper terrain in the Mount Massive Wilderness, hotshot crews continue to scout and construct fireline as the fire moves toward sparse, high-elevation fuels (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Crews continue working to complete contingency firelines in the Halfmoon Creek area south of the fire (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Mandatory evacuation zones 21B, 21C, and 6A have been downgraded to pre-evacuation status (per Lake County Sheriff's Office · Facebook)
• Re-entry for residents of zones 21B, 21C, and 6A began at 2:00 PM on July 20; a Salamander card is required at the checkpoint (per Lake County Sheriff's Office · Facebook)
• Spanish translation services are available at the re-entry checkpoint (per Lake County Sheriff's Office · Facebook)
• The public is asked to avoid the area of Mt. Massive and Hagerman Pass (per Wildfire · InciWeb)
• County Road 9 remains closed (per Lake County Sheriff's Office · Facebook)
• Road closures at County Road 10 and 11A, and at County Road 10 and Highway 24, have been lifted (per Lake County Sheriff's Office · Facebook)
• Portions of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests are temporarily closed for public safety through September 30, 2026, including portions of the Leadville Ranger District (per Wildfire · InciWeb)
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect; private aircraft or drones violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges (per Wildfire · InciWeb)
• The public is asked to continue respecting closure orders and temporary flight restrictions for Pike-San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (per Lake County Sheriff's Office · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 20, 2026, 7:17 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is burning approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, CO, and is currently 41% contained. Mop-up and suppression efforts are ongoing across multiple areas of the fire.

• The fire is 7,181 acres and 41% contained, with 696 total personnel assigned. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• The fire started on June 28, 2026. Southwest Area Team 4, led by Incident Commander Andrew Mandell, assumed command at 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026. (per Wildfire news article)
• Mop-up efforts on the northeast side of the fire have been successful, increasing containment to 41%. Some hose and other equipment are being pulled out as suppression work is completed. (per Wildfire news article)
• On the north end of Colorado Gulch and east of Bald Eagle Mountain, work continues to secure the line keeping the fire in its current footprint. (per Wildfire news article)
• At the Willow Creek Drainage, crews are utilizing direct extinguishment strategies, engaging the active flame front directly where it is safe. (per Wildfire news article)
• Interior islands of vegetation throughout the fire continue to burn and become visible but are not a threat to control lines. (per Wildfire news article)
• Hotshot crews are making good progress in the Mount Massive Wilderness using M.I.S.T. (Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics). (per Wildfire news article)
• For current closure and evacuation information, the public should follow Lake County Office of Emergency Management. The public is asked to respect closures and avoid the area of Mt. Massive and Hagerman Pass. (per Wildfire news article)
• Portions of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests, including portions of the Leadville Ranger District, are temporarily closed for public safety through September 30, 2026. Violations are subject to fines. (per Wildfire news article)
• A FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect. Private aircraft or drones violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges. (per Wildfire news article)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 19, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is an active incident in Lake County, Colorado, with a majority of the fire burning on U.S. Forest Service land. Due to the fire's size, complexity, and location, outside resources are being utilized to support Lake County.

• The fire is described as large and complex, with a majority of its area on U.S. Forest Service land (per Lakecountyco).
• Local, regional, state, and federal partners are supporting the response, including equipment, investigators, first responders, incident management teams, and emergency operations administration personnel (per Lakecountyco).
• Residents are being advised to prepare for the possibility of evacuation (per Lakecountyco).
• Propane safety guidance has been issued: know how and where to shut off outdoor propane supply and appliances; clear combustible materials from around propane tanks and grills, maintaining at least 10 feet of clearance whenever possible; ensure grills and portable propane cylinders are located at least 10 feet from structures; never store propane cylinders inside a home, garage, shed, tent, or other enclosed space; and review emergency plans with family (per Lakecountyco).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 12, 2026, 4:09 PM MDT: The Willow Fire remains an active incident in Lake County. Evacuation zones are being adjusted as crews work to hold established fire lines.

• The pre-evacuation notice for Zone 1 has been lifted, effective 2:00 PM MDT July 12 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Zone 21A remains under mandatory evacuation (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Crews continue to hold and reinforce Halfmoon Road (County Road 11) as a fire break (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Halfmoon Road serves as an action point — if conditions change, Zone 1 could be returned to pre-evacuation status (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• U.S. Forest Service forest closure orders remain in effect; the public is asked to continue respecting them (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 12, 2026, 3:19 PM MDT: The Willow Fire remains an active incident in Lake County. Evacuation zone statuses have seen a recent improvement, with the pre-evacuation notice for Zone 1 lifted as of this afternoon.

• The Lake County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with the Incident Management Team, lifted the pre-evacuation notice for Zone 1 as of approximately 2:00 PM MDT on July 12. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• Zone 21A remains under mandatory evacuation. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• Crews continue to hold and reinforce Halfmoon Road (County Road 11) as a fire break. Should conditions change, Halfmoon Road is an action point that would return Zone 1 to pre-evacuation status. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• U.S. Forest Service forest closure orders remain in effect; the public is asked to continue respecting them. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• A large animal shelter is operating at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds. Animals including horses, donkeys, chickens, ducks, and goats have been sheltered there over the past two weeks. Those with sheltering needs or questions can contact Diana at 719-839-1933. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 10, 2026, 4:49 PM MDT: The Willow Fire remains an active wildfire in Lake County, Colorado, heading into a hot and dry weekend following some rainfall earlier in the week. Fire restrictions remain in place as firefighting operations continue.

• 750 personnel are currently assigned to the fire (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Lake County and on United States Forest Service land (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook). These restrictions prohibit:
• Open fires of any kind, including campfires, fire pits, and charcoal grills
• Shooting
• Agricultural burning or yard debris burning
• Use of fireworks, including permissible fireworks
• Outdoor smoking, except inside an enclosed vehicle or building
• Welding or activities that produce open sparks or flames without proper mitigation and permits
• Updates are being posted to the Willow Fire website at lakecountyco.gov/599/Willow-Fire (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 10, 2026, 9:27 AM MDT: The Willow Fire in Lake County, Colorado remained stable overnight with little change from the previous day. Containment has reached 22% with a large firefighting force actively working the incident.

• Size: 4,500 acres affected (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Containment: 22% (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Personnel: 750 assigned (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Response costs: Have exceeded $10 million (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Evacuation and pre-evacuation zones: No changes at this time (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Road closures: All remain in place (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Fire restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions remain in effect; all shooting activities are prohibited on lands within Leadville, Lake County, and the U.S. Forest Service (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 10, 2026, 9:27 AM MDT: The Willow Fire in Lake County, Colorado has remained stable overnight with little change from the previous day. Containment has reached 22% with significant resources committed to the response.

• 4,500 acres affected (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• 22% containment (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• 750 personnel assigned (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Response costs have exceeded $10 million (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• No changes to evacuation or pre-evacuation zones; all road closures remain in place (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Stage 2 Fire Restrictions remain in effect (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• All shooting activities are prohibited on lands within Leadville, Lake County, and the U.S. Forest Service (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Residents with propane on their property are advised to know how to shut off outdoor propane supply and appliances, clear combustible materials at least 10 feet from tanks and grills, keep grills and portable propane cylinders at least 10 feet from structures, and never store propane cylinders in enclosed spaces (per Lakecountyco)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 9, 2026, 5:29 PM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted evacuations and pre-evacuations in the area, with shelter operations undergoing a status change.

• The Red Cross Evacuation Shelter at Darren Patterson Christian Academy in Buena Vista is moving to standby status starting July 9 at 7 p.m. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Residents in need of shelter due to Willow Fire evacuations or pre-evacuations are directed to report to that location and follow on-site instructions. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 9, 2026, 9:05 AM MDT: The Willow Fire is an active wildfire in Lake County, Colorado, currently being monitored by emergency officials. Firefighters and partner agencies are working to contain the fire while protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure.

• Evacuation orders are in effect for some areas; residents under an evacuation order are instructed to leave (per Lakecountyco).
• Pre-evacuation zones are also in place (per Lakecountyco).
• Re-entry ID Cards are required for return to evacuated areas once they are declared safe. Cards can be picked up at the Lake County Public Library – Amax Room, Monday July 6 from 1:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. and Tuesday–Friday July 7–10 from 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Residents must bring a photo ID and proof of address (per Lakecountyco).
• Road closures are in effect and may change throughout the incident; current closures are available on the official evacuation map (per Lakecountyco).
• Smoke from the fire may reduce air quality in surrounding communities. Sensitive groups including children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and people with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity when smoke levels are elevated (per Lakecountyco).
• The fire originated on U.S. Forest Service lands; the Forest Service will be the investigating agency for the fire's cause (per Lakecountyco).
• Emergency alerts can be registered through the Lake County Office of Emergency Management at OEM@lakecountyco.gov or by phone at 719-427-0252 (per Lakecountyco).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 8, 2026, 4:09 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is prompting evacuation preparations and propane safety guidance for residents. Evacuation zone boundaries have been updated, and pre-evacuation notices have been lifted for some zones.

• Zone 23 has been divided into Zones 23 and 23A, split along Highway 24 to provide more specific evacuation information (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Zone 6B has expanded and now extends all the way to Highway 24 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The pre-evacuation status has been lifted for Zone 23A and Zone 7 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• No new additional zones are being placed in pre-evacuation (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Residents in Zone 23A or Zone 7 are no longer under pre-evacuation notice; they are encouraged to remain aware of changing conditions and continue monitoring official channels (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Residents preparing for possible evacuation due to the Willow Fire are advised to clear combustible materials at least 10 feet from propane tanks and grills, keep grills and portable propane cylinders at least 10 feet from structures, and never store propane cylinders inside enclosed spaces (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 8, 2026, 2:19 PM MDT: The Willow Fire continues to prompt active evacuation zone management in Lake County, with officials updating zone boundaries to improve public safety and travel along Highway 24.

• Zone 23 has been divided into Zones 23 and 23A, split along Highway 24 to provide more specific evacuation information (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Zone 6B has expanded and now extends all the way to Highway 24 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• The pre-evacuation status has been lifted for Zone 23A and Zone 7; residents in those zones are no longer under pre-evacuation notice (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• No new additional zones are being placed in pre-evacuation (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Residents are encouraged to remain aware of changing conditions and monitor official channels, and to review the updated evacuation and road closure map (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 7, 2026, 9:44 AM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted evacuation measures in the Buena Vista, Colorado area, with re-entry card services currently in operation for affected residents.

• Re-Entry Cards for the Willow Fire are now available at Darren Patterson Christian Academy, 518 S. San Juan Ave., Buena Vista, CO 81211 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Current hours for re-entry card issuance are daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and will remain in effect while the evacuation shelter is open (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Residents must bring a valid photo ID and any additional documentation verifying their residence (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 6, 2026, 7:59 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is prompting evacuations and road closures, with shelter and re-entry resources active for affected residents.

• The shelter at Battle Mountain High School in Edwards is closed. Do not report there. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The shelter at Colorado Mountain College - Leadville is also closed. Do not report there. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• Active shelter is open at Darren Patterson Christian Academy, 518 S. San Juan, Buena Vista, CO. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Re-entry ID cards are required for re-entry once evacuated zones are declared safe and reopened. Cards can be picked up at: Lake County Public Library - Amax Room, daily 1PM–7PM; Darren Patterson Christian Academy - Buena Vista, daily 7AM–7PM (while shelter is open); Twin Lakes General Store, daily 12PM–5PM. Bring photo ID and proof of address. Call 719-427-0252 with questions. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• Road closures in effect: Forest Road 110 / Halfmoon Road to Champion Campgrounds; Turquoise Lake Rd and all surrounding campsites; County Road 4, 5, 5A, 9 + 99 intersection, 48; Hagerman Pass from Turquoise Lake to Pitkin County. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is active — do not launch drones or aircraft. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• Leadville Regional Airport is closed to all general aviation traffic; emergency and fire operations are excepted. Check NOTAMs for additional information. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• A USFS Willow Fire Forest Closure Order is dated 7.3.2026. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• An evacuation and road closure map is available at the link provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Office. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• Large animal sheltering supplies inquiries: call Diana at 719-839-1933. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• For fire updates, contact the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 at 719-569-5537 or email 2026.willow@firenet.gov. (per Lakecountyco · news article)
• Dial 211 for Willow Fire information. (per Lakecountyco · news article)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 6, 2026, 5:19 PM MDT: The Willow Fire continues to prompt active evacuation zone management in Lake County, Colorado, with at least one zone seeing a status change allowing residents to return home.

• Zone 6B has been moved to pre-evacuation status, meaning residents may begin returning home through an organized re-entry process (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Residents of Lake Fork, Stargazer Circle, and County Road 11 are among those affected by the Zone 6B pre-evacuation status change (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Re-entry requires a Salamander Re-Entry Card, a photo ID, and proof of address, to be presented at a checkpoint (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Those not re-entering are asked to avoid the area (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Re-Entry Cards and additional Willow Fire information are available at lakecountyco.gov/599/Willow-Department (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• An evacuation zone map is available at arcg.is/0KuSC40 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 6, 2026, 3:00 PM MDT: The Willow Fire in Lake County, Colorado has prompted evacuation zone updates, with re-entry now authorized for Zone 6B residents. A community meeting is scheduled for the following evening.

• Evacuation zones were updated following a discussion between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Forest Service Fire Operations Team regarding current weather conditions, fire activity, and existing evacuation zones (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Zone 6B now includes Lake Fork, Stargazer Circle, and County Road 11. Zone 6A was also updated as part of an effort to simplify the evacuation map (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Re-entry to Zone 6B requires a Salamander (re-entry) card; residents are advised to have it ready at the re-entry checkpoint (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Re-entry is proceeding in the following order: special populations (elderly residents, individuals with disabilities, and others with access or functional needs) beginning at 3:00 PM; Lake Fork residents beginning at 3:30 PM; residents of Stargazer Circle and County Road 11 beginning at 4:30 PM (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Residents who have not yet obtained a Salamander card may do so at the parking lot in front of Saturdays with appropriate documentation (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Spanish translation services will be available at the re-entry checkpoint (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• A public community meeting on the Willow Fire is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM at Lake County High School Auditorium, 1000 W. Fourth St., Leadville, CO 80461 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 6, 2026, 1:03 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is burning south of Turquoise Lake and west of Leadville in Lake County, Colorado, and has grown to 4,143 acres with 1% containment. The fire was first reported on the afternoon of June 28.

• The fire stands at 4,143 total acres with 1% containment, per the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team (per Denver7 (news article))
• The Lake County Regional Airport in Leadville has closed to all flights other than for medical transport (per Denver7 (news article))
• A temporary flight restriction has expanded over the Willow Fire area; drone use can interfere with firefighting operations and pose a serious risk to safety (per Denver7 (news article))
• The American Red Cross of Colorado has relocated the Colorado Mountain College evacuation center to Darren Patterson Christian Academy in Buena Vista (per Denver7 (news article))
• Meteorologists are predicting a 50% chance of showers the following day with wind gusts up to 50 mph that will make smoke from the Willow Fire visible throughout the area (per Denver7 (news article))
• Residents in evacuation and pre-evacuation zones can pick up re-entry identification cards through 1 p.m. at the E. 6th and Poplar Gravel Lot, and from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lake County Public Library Amax Room (per Denver7 (news article))
• As of Sunday, July 5 at 8 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff's Office announced road closures including Highway 24 at Highway 300 to block Highway 300; County Road 4 and County Road 5 at the railroad tracks to block County Road 4; and the County Road 9 and 99 closure remains to block County Road 9 (per Denver7 (news article))
• The Lake County Sheriff's Office ordered evacuations in Zone 6A, while Zones 1, 4, and 7 were placed into pre-evacuation status as the fire expanded south (per Denver7 (news article))
• Colorado has been authorized for a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant, which will make funding available for FEMA to pay 75% of the state's eligible firefighting costs; the grant does not provide assistance to individual home or business owners, nor for infrastructure damage caused by the fire (per Denver7 (news article))

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 9:11 PM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted large-scale evacuations in Lake County, with evacuees sheltered in neighboring counties due to the scale of the emergency and limited in-county shelter capacity.

• Evacuation shelters were placed outside Lake County because no in-county locations could safely accommodate the number of evacuees while remaining outside the potential impact area (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• To avoid overwhelming any one community, evacuees were distributed between two neighboring counties (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Re-entry cards are being required at checkpoints in addition to government-issued photo ID; the cards can be linked to a specific address or property to allow law enforcement to efficiently confirm a person is returning to an authorized location (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Conditions affecting re-entry may include road closures, hazardous areas, active firefighting operations, damaged infrastructure, or utility work (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 8:08 PM MDT: The Willow Fire continues to affect Lake County, with evacuation and pre-evacuation zones in effect. Residents are urged to monitor the official Lake County evacuation map for the most current zone information.

• A daily briefing was held at 8:00 PM with Sheriff Speckman providing the latest updates (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Residents in Pre-Evacuation or Mandatory Evacuation areas who have not yet obtained a Salamander (re-entry) card can pick one up at the 6th Street parking lot across from Moe's (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Salamander cards will be available at that location between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM on July 6th (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Residents are encouraged to use this local distribution site rather than traveling to locations outside of Lake County (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 7:43 PM MDT: The Willow Fire in Colorado has prompted a federal response, with a Fire Management Assistance Grant approved for the incident.

• A Fire Management Assistance Grant has been approved for the Willow Fire (per @COEmergency · X).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 5:56 PM MDT: The Willow fire has prompted evacuations, with residents relocating large animals to an emergency shelter location.

• Large animal evacuees may be sheltered at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds, and RV camping with animals is permitted at that location (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds site is primitive camping only — no potable water or porta-potties are currently available, though those resources are being requested (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Stud horses are not permitted at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds shelter due to the temporary fencing being insufficient for them; all other large animals are welcome (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 2:03 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is prompting ongoing evacuation activity in Lake County, with re-entry card distribution and evacuation shelter guidance in effect for affected residents.

• A Salamander (re-entry) card station has been established at the 6th Street parking lot across from Moe's, open until 7:00 P.M. on July 5th. Residents in Pre-Evacuation areas are encouraged to pick up their Salamander card at this location. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• The Eagle evacuation site is not able to accommodate pets. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)
• Residents traveling to the Eagle County evacuation site may take pets directly to the Eagle County Animal Shelter at 1400 Fairgrounds Road, Eagle, CO 81631, or proceed to the shelter where staff will assist with transporting pets to the Eagle County Animal Shelter. (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 12:43 PM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted an evacuation, with transportation assistance being coordinated for residents needing help leaving the area.

• Two buses are available at the Lake Fork bus stop at 12:15 p.m. to transport evacuees to both evacuation site locations. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Evacuees using the Lake Fork bus stop should bring essential medications, important documents, and other necessary personal belongings. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The United States Forest Service (USFS) has approved an extension to the 12:00 evacuation deadline to ensure everyone can evacuate safely. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• An additional transportation pickup location is available at the 6th Street lot across from Moe's for those unable to make the 12:15 time; updates on timing for that location will be provided when available. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 11:55 AM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted an active evacuation effort in the Lake County area. Transportation is being arranged to help residents evacuate safely.

• Two buses will be available at the Lake Fork bus stop at 12:15 p.m. to transport evacuees to evacuation site locations (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• The United States Forest Service (USFS) has approved an extension to the 12:00 p.m. evacuation deadline to ensure everyone can evacuate safely (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Evacuees should bring essential medications, important documents, and necessary personal belongings (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• An additional transportation pickup location is available at the 6th Street lot across from Moe's for those unable to make the 12:15 p.m. time; updated timing for that pickup will be provided when available (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 11:06 AM MDT: The Willow Fire is burning in Lake County, southwest of Turquoise Lake and west of the City of Leadville, Colorado. New evacuations were announced Sunday as the fire continues with no containment.

• Size: 2,969 acres as of Saturday, 10 a.m. (per Denver7)
• Containment: 0% as of Saturday, 10 a.m. (per Denver7)
• Cause: Unknown (per Denver7)
• Residents on or in the area of CR 11, CR 11A, and Lake Fork Trailer Park are ordered to leave immediately, as the fire threatens to move into the area (per Denver7; @DenverChannel · X)
• Leadville proper remains under an evacuation warning (per Denver7)
• New evacuations were ordered for the area south of the fire Friday evening; 178 homes were put under pre-evacuations per a Saturday morning update (per Denver7)
• New pre-evacuations were issued Saturday for the area southeast of the lake "out of an abundance of caution" (per Denver7)
• No structures have been lost and nobody has been injured in this fire (per Denver7)
• A wildfire shelter has opened (per @COEmergency · X)
• An evacuation center is located at the Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus (per Denver7)
• Road closures include Turquoise Lake Road, Highway 300 at County Road 5 and County 5A (Fish Hatchery Loop), County Road 9 and County Road 99 intersection (Leadville Junction), and County Road 4 and County Road 48 (Turquoise Lake Dam entrance); Half Moon Road and its camping areas are also closed (per Denver7)
• Fire officials stated "a full suppression strategy remains underway" (per Denver7)
• The Lake County Sheriff's Office notes conditions can change quickly and directs the public to the official evacuation and road closure map for current statuses (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 5, 2026, 9:16 AM MDT: The Willow Fire is impacting multiple areas in Lake County, with mandatory evacuations in effect for some neighborhoods and pre-evacuation notices issued for others.

• The fire is approximately 6 miles west of Leadville, at 3,090 acres and 1% containment, burning in lodgepole pine and mixed conifer fuels; cause is under investigation. These figures are from the Latest Updates dated July 4 at 1630 (per Lakecountyco).
• Mandatory evacuation is in effect immediately for Lake Fork, Stargazer Circle, and County Road 11. All residents in these areas must evacuate by 12:00 P.M. today, July 5, 2026 (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Lake County Search and Rescue and law enforcement personnel are going door-to-door in mandatory evacuation areas to notify residents and assist those needing help evacuating (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Zones 1, 4, and 7 are under Pre-Evacuation Notice (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook):
• Zone 1: Village of Twin Lakes, Hwy 82 west to the summit of Independence Pass, Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir, Pan-Ark Subdivision, EE Hill
• Zone 4: Highway 24 from mile 186 to mile 182, CR 10, 11A, 24D, 136
• Zone 7: Hwy 24 from mile 182 to mile 180, Valley Rd, Loop Rd, Crystal Ridge Rd, County Roads 44, 45, 46
• Colorado Mountain College (CMC) is no longer serving as an evacuation shelter (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Evacuation shelters are established at: Public Safety Complex, 200 Steele Drive, Buena Vista, CO; and Battle Mountain High School, 151 Miller Ranch Road, Edwards, CO (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Salamander (re-entry) cards can be retrieved from the evacuation shelters in Buena Vista and Edwards (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the Willow Fire area; drone use is prohibited within the TFR and can impede firefighting operations and poses a serious risk to firefighter and pilot safety (per Lakecountyco).
• Evacuation decisions are being made in close coordination with Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 4 and the U.S. Forest Service (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• For emergencies, call 911. For updates: lakecountyco.gov/599/Willow-Fire (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts and linked news coverage; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 4, 2026, 8:59 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is prompting ongoing evacuation preparations in Lake County, Colorado. Out of an abundance of caution, Zone 9 has been placed under Pre-Evacuation Notice.

• Zone 9 is now under Pre-Evacuation Notice; there is no mandatory evacuation for this area at this time. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Zone 9 includes: the area south of Baby Doe Dr., the southern half of McWethy (from U.S. Highway 24 to County Road 4), Community Field and Rodeo Grounds, First Presbyterian Church, Dutch Henry Hill, Leadville Sanitation District Office, Stringtown, County Roads 5, 31, 36, 36A, and 39, Elm Street (west of McWethy), Rodeway Inn, Leadville Carwash, and Saturday's Mercantile. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Members of Lake County Search and Rescue and the Lake County Sheriff's Office are going door-to-door throughout these neighborhoods to notify residents and answer questions. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Decisions are being made in coordination with Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 4 and the U.S. Forest Service, based on current fire behavior, weather, terrain, and access routes. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Crews are planning to work on structural protection in these neighborhoods as needed. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Residents in pre-evacuation zones are encouraged to begin gathering essential items, make plans for family members and pets, and stay alert for additional updates. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 4, 2026, 12:50 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is prompting ongoing evacuation preparations in Lake County, Colorado. The Lake County Sheriff's Office has expanded pre-evacuation notices to include Zone 9 as of this afternoon.

• Zone 9 has been placed under Pre-Evacuation Notice out of an abundance of caution (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook). Zone 9 includes the area south of Baby Doe Dr., the southern half of McWethy (from U.S. Highway 24 to County Road 4), Community Field and Rodeo Grounds, First Presbyterian Church, Dutch Henry Hill, Leadville Sanitation District Office, Stringtown, County Roads 9, 31, 36, 36A, and 39, Elm Street (west of McWethy), Rodeway Inn, Leadville Carwash, and Saturday's Mercantile (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• There is no mandatory evacuation for Zone 9 at this time; residents are encouraged to gather essential items, make plans for family members and pets, and stay alert for updates (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Members of Lake County Search and Rescue and the Lake County Sheriff's Office are going door-to-door throughout these neighborhoods to notify residents and answer questions (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Crews are planning to work on structural protection in these neighborhoods as needed (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Decisions are being made in coordination with Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 4 and the U.S. Forest Service, based on current fire behavior, weather, terrain, and access routes (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 3, 2026, 8:46 PM MDT: The Willow Fire is prompting active public safety operations in Lake County over the holiday weekend, with law enforcement patrols increased and pre-evacuation measures in place for at least one zone.

• The Lake County Sheriff's Office is conducting increased patrols in dispersed camping areas to inform the public of current closures and Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, and to encourage safe recreation during elevated fire danger conditions (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• The Sheriff's Office has requested additional law enforcement resources, which are currently en route to assist with public safety operations and support ongoing incident needs (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Bilingual staff will be stationed at the main office in Lake Fork on July 4th from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM to issue re-entry ID cards to residents in evacuated and pre-evacuated zones. Residents must bring ID and proof of address (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Lake County Search and Rescue crews are in the neighborhood to answer questions and provide residents with information about what pre-evacuation means and what evacuation would look like (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• The US Forest Service and Incident Management Team's Operations Chiefs do not anticipate an evacuation in the pre-evacuated zone; however, Sheriff Speckman placed the warning out of an abundance of caution (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 3, 2026, 7:45 PM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted Lake County Sheriff's Office to place several areas under pre-evacuation notice out of an abundance of caution, with no mandatory evacuation currently in effect.

• The following areas are under pre-evacuation: Lake Fork, Stargazer Circle, and County Road 11 (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Members of Lake County Search and Rescue and the Lake County Sheriff's Office are going door-to-door in these neighborhoods to notify residents and answer questions (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• The pre-evacuation decision was made in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service and the Incident Management Team, based on fire behavior, weather, terrain, and access routes (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Federal partners expressed confidence they would be able to defend these neighborhoods to protect life and structures, but the pre-evacuation notice was ordered as an extra precautionary step (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).
• Residents are encouraged to gather essential items, make plans for family members and pets, and stay alert for additional updates (per Lake County Sheriffs Office · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 2, 2026, 6:42 PM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted evacuations in Lake County, with officials managing a re-entry identification card process for displaced residents.

• Bilingual staff will be stationed at the Mountain View West office on July 3 from 1 PM to 7 PM to issue re-entry ID cards to pre-evacuated residents (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Residents must bring ID and/or proof of address to receive a card (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• A re-entry ID card is required for re-entry once evacuated zones are declared safe and reopened (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).
• Residents who have already evacuated may pick up their card after evacuations are lifted and they have returned to Lake County (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook).

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.

As of Jul 2, 2026, 1:25 PM MDT: The Willow Fire has prompted a road and campground closure in the Leadville Ranger District area of Lake County, Colorado. No evacuation warnings or orders are currently in effect for the area.

• The US Forest Service Leadville Ranger District has ordered a closure of Half Moon Road and its camping areas, up to Champion Campgrounds, effective immediately and until further notice. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• The closure is described as being out of an abundance of caution leading into a holiday weekend. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• There are no evacuation warnings or orders for the area. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Those currently camping at Halfmoon are asked to respect Search and Rescue crews who have volunteered their time to ensure the area is clear. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)
• Those planning camping trips are encouraged to explore dispersed camping options in Twin Lakes or in neighboring Chaffee County and Summit County. (per Lake County Office of Emergency Management · Facebook)

🤖 AI summary of official posts; may lag or contain errors — verify with the source and official channels. ⚠️ Not an official evacuation order — follow your sheriff/emergency management.