Fire Update – Elk Fire
Friday, August 7th, 2026 – 8:00 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1
Justin Conrad, Incident Commander
Information Phone: 970-299-5357
Email: 2026.elk@firenet.gov
Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Special Note: A community meeting will take place tonight, August 7, at 6 p.m. at Lake City Community School, 614 Silver St. Lake City, CO. Incident Management Team members and local agency officials will provide an update on the current status of the Elk Fire.
Current Situation: Fire managers continue to bring in more resources to support recent fire growth. Resources include multiple engines, Colorado Mutual Aid Surge engines, and night operations. These resources will work on point protection for structures and values closest to the fire’s edge. Previous teams’ work on indirect lines north and west of Lake City continue to be utilized. As the fire moves into more accessible terrain and lighter fuels, this gives firefighters opportunities to engage with the fire.
Due to the increase in fire size, additional divisions have been added to maintain span of control. On the north end, in Division X, heavy equipment continues to work on repair of indirect firelines. On the east side along Hwy 149, resources in Division A will focus on protecting values along the highway corridor. Near Lake City, Division G resources will evaluate needs and stage water handling equipment in the event it is needed to protect values in town. Division M on the west side is currently unstaffed.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures remain above normal with low relative humidity and slightly lower winds. Expect the weather pattern to hold through Saturday, with clouds and moisture increasing on Sunday. Fire behavior, such as spotting ahead of the fire front, when the alignment of slopes and wind is expected to continue.
Evacuations: Current evacuation information is available for Hinsdale County at hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov.
Closures: The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests closure information is available at fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office closures can be found at blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district.
No Fly Zone: The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been increased for the Elk Fire area. Flying drones near the fire is prohibited and can interfere with firefighting aircraft, potentially grounding aerial suppression operations. For more information on flight restrictions, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.
Fire Statistics:
Size: 5,117 acres
Containment: 40%
Total Personnel: 52 with additional resources arriving
Location: 7 Miles NW of Lake City, CO
Reported: July 9, 2026
Cause: Lightning
For More Information:
Information Phone: 970-299-5357
Email: 2026.elk@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2026elkfire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/cogmf-elk-fire
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/2026ElkPublic
