Overview
- The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 reported the Elk Fire at 5,117 acres with 40% containment in its Friday update, up from about 3,527 acres the previous day.
- Fire managers have increased resources to respond to the recent growth, adding multiple engines, Colorado Mutual Aid surge engines, and starting night operations to protect structures.
- Two Super Scoopers have been deployed to cool hot spots along the eastern edge while crews stage water‑handling gear such as hoses, portable reservoirs called pumpkins, and sprinklers for point protection.
- Hinsdale County issued a mandatory evacuation for the San Juan Springs subdivision and placed large parts of Lake City and nearby neighborhoods on pre‑evacuation notice with officials directing residents to county evacuation pages.
- The blaze began July 9 from a lightning strike and is burning GMUG National Forest and adjacent BLM land, and managers say hot, dry weather through Saturday with a Red Flag Warning keeps the fire likely to grow until expected weekend moisture arrives.