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Derby Fire estimated at 839 acres as of Wednesday morning

The lightning-ignited fire was first spotted Sunday in rural Eagle County

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The Derby Fire has grown to about 245 acres as of Wednesday morning.
White River National Forest/Courtesy photo

The Derby Fire, located north of Dotsero in White River National Forest grew to 839 acres Tuesday evening, according to the Watch Duty app. The measurement is more than three times the 245 acre estimation Tuesday evening.

The growth has prompted evacuation orders in the area of Sweetwater Lake and a complete closure of Colorado River Road.

Residents in the area of Sweetwater Road and sections of the Colorado River Road from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek should be out of their homes by noon Wednesday, according to an Eagle County Alert. Derby Mesa loop remains in pre-evacuation at this time.



One of the evacuation zones is in Garfield County and Watch Duty users in that area will receive alerts.

An Evacuation Center will be staffed for information and resources by 7:30 a.m. at the Two Rivers Community Center at 80 Lake Shore Drive in Dotsero.



The White River National Forest is also closed in the area of the fire to keep responders and the public safe.

The closure is within the Blanco and Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger Districts, starting north of Sweetwater Lake, following the Forest boundary north and east to the intersection of the Derby Loop Road (Eagle County Road 39); following Middle Derby Creek generally northwest to Island Lakes; then, generally south following the Island Lakes Trail (#1842), the W Mountain Trail (#1817), the Turret-Crescent Trail (#2269) and the Turret Creek Trail (#1838) back to Sweetwater Lake.

The small lightning-ignited fire was detected on a steep cliff above the East Fork of Red Dirt Creek late Sunday morning

The Derby Fire was active overnight in remote Eagle County.
Eagle Valley Wildland/Courtesy photo

This story is from VailDaily.com.

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