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10 largest wildfires in Colorado history

By O'Dell Isaac August 11, 2025 | updated 1 month ago

The Lee fire, burning in Rio Blanco County near Meeker in northwest Colorado, has eclipsed the 2018 Spring Creek blaze as the fifth-largest wildfire in state history, according to multiple reports.

Ignited by a lightning strike Aug. 2, the Lee fire is currently at 7% containment, incident officials said. It is the state’s largest wildfire since 2020, when the Cameron Peak, East Troublesome and Pine Gulch blazes scorched a combined 541,732 acres.

The Lee fire is southwest of Meeker, while the smaller Elk fire continues to burn east of Meeker. The Lee fire grew to 113,378 acres by Monday morning, according to a social media post by the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Cameron Peak fire burned for 112 days, officials said. The fire ignited on Aug. 13, 2020, in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest near Cameron Pass and Chambers Lake.

The Larimer County Damage Assessment Teams found 469 structures were impacted by the blaze and only eight of those structures remained intact. A total of 224 of those structures were residential and all but four were destroyed. 

Here is a list, subject to change, of the 10 largest wildfires in Colorado history:

1. Cameron Peak fire (2020)  – 208, 913 acres

2. East Troublesome fire (2020) – 193,812 acres

EstesParkFire.jpg

The town of Estes Park was evacuated Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, after the East Troublesome fire blew up overnight. A deep haze of storm clouds and ash from the fire settled over Estes Park, forcing drivers to turn on their lights at 3 p.m.

Mary Shinn, The Gazette file

EstesParkFire.jpg

The town of Estes Park was evacuated Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, after the East Troublesome fire blew up overnight. A deep haze of storm clouds and ash from the fire settled over Estes Park, forcing drivers to turn on their lights at 3 p.m. 



Mary Shinn, The Gazette file


3. Pine Gulch fire (2020) – 139,007 acres

pinegulch.jpg

The Pine Gulch Fire on Aug. 5, 2020. The fire is burning 18 miles north of Grand Junction.

Pine Gulch Fire official Facebook page

pinegulch.jpg

The Pine Gulch Fire on Aug. 5, 2020. The fire is burning 18 miles north of Grand Junction.



Pine Gulch Fire official Facebook page


4. Hayman fire (2002) – 137,760 acres

06_18_02 M Fire 71.jpg

Massive flames from the Hayman Fire can be seen north of Florissant on Tuesday June 18, 2002. Jay Janner/The Gazette

The Gazette file

06_18_02 M Fire 71.jpg

Massive flames from the Hayman Fire can be seen north of Florissant on Tuesday June 18, 2002. Jay Janner/The Gazette



The Gazette file


Featured Local Savings

5. Lee fire (2025) – 113,378 acres

Lee Fire.jpg

The Lee fire was 106,672 acres with 6% containment as of Sunday.

Courtesy of Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office

Lee Fire.jpg

The Lee fire was 106,672 acres with 6% containment as of Sunday.



Courtesy of Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office


6. Spring Creek fire (2018) – 108,045 acres

spring creek fire.jpg

The Spring Creek Fire, seen here on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, had consumed nearly 3,000 acres of BLM and private land near Parachute, Colorado by Wednesday afternoon.

Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

spring creek fire.jpg

The Spring Creek Fire, seen here on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, had consumed nearly 3,000 acres of BLM and private land near Parachute, Colorado by Wednesday afternoon. 



Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service


7. High Park fire (2012) – 87,284 acres

8. Missionary Ridge fire (2002) – 70,285 acres

9. West Fork fire (2013) – 58,570 acres

Colorado Wildfires

Smoke fills the sky from the West Fork Fire in South Fork, Colo. on Thursday, June 20. 2013. Colorado Highway 160 through the area has been closed and evacuations ordered of the small town at the bottom of Wolf Creek Pass. (AP Photo/The Pueblo Chieftain, Matt Hildner)

MATT HILDNER

Colorado Wildfires

Smoke fills the sky from the West Fork Fire in South Fork, Colo. on Thursday, June 20. 2013. Colorado Highway 160 through the area has been closed and evacuations ordered of the small town at the bottom of Wolf Creek Pass. (AP Photo/The Pueblo Chieftain, Matt Hildner)



MATT HILDNER


10. 416 fire (2018) – 54,129 acres

Cameron Peak fire now largest in Colorado history; Fort Carson crews on Wild Horse fire on alert
Lee fire becomes 6th largest wildfire in Colorado history
Battle against western Colorado wildfires continues, 2 near full containment

O'Dell Isaac

Reporter

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