Several wildfires burning in Colorado are contributing to smoky skies in Fort Collins.
A small vegetation fire was reported in the 8700 block of West Highway 14/Poudre Canyon Road near the Greyrock Trailhead about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 5. Voluntary evacuations were briefly in place, but the fire was quickly controlled, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
Smoke from a handful of fires burning on the western slope is spreading east, according to the National Weather Service. People who are sensitive to the smoke are advised to stay indoors and keep windows closed.
Here's an update on where wildfires are buring in Colorado as of the morning of Aug. 5.
2025 Colorado wildfire map
Elk, Lee and Grease fires in Rio Blanco County
The Elk Fire east of Meeker in Rio Blanco County has burned 13,025 acres, and the nearby Lee and Grease fires have burned 7,750 acres, according to the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team.
The Elk and Lee fires were first reported Aug. 2.
The Grease Fire was first reported close to the Lee Fire the afternoon of Aug. 3, and it's being managed with the Lee Fire, according to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office. All three fires are believed to have been started by lightning.
Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster declaration for the Elk Fire on Aug. 3 citing fire conditions at "near record levels" and elevated fire weather and risk expected in the coming weeks.
Leroux Fire
The Leroux fire in Delta County started Aug. 3 and grew quickly overnight, prompting evacuations. According to Delta County, 74 addresses are under evacuation order. The fire has burned 700 acres as of the morning of Aug. 5 and remains 0% contained. A Type 3 incident management team took over command of the fire the morning of Aug. 5, which means more resources will be available to fight the fire.
Other Colorado wildfires at or reaching containment
The Turner Gulch Fire, east of Delta, is the largest of the season at 22,053 acres and 49% containment as of Aug. 4. The nearby Wright Draw Fire sat at 466 acres and 92% containment as of the most recent update on Aug. 1.
The South Rim Fire at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park held at 4,232 acres and 92% containment. Fire activity remains isolated to interior pockets of the fire area and other inaccessible areas, and fire behavior is limited to smoldering and creeping, posing little risk of spreading outside the fire's current footprint.
The Deer Creek Fire, which mostly destroyed land in Utah, was 95% contained with an estimated Aug. 7 containment date. The blaze scorched 17,724 acres.
The Coulter Creek Fire in Carbondale was reportd 100% contained Aug. 4 after burning 107 acres.
USA TODAY reporter Nate Trela contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Wildfires burning in western Colorado sending smoke to Fort Collins
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