Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers assist local communities during Elk and Lee Fires

Bridget O'Rourke
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-219-2919
[email protected]

For Release: Aug. 28, 2025

DENVER — Conditions in Colorado this summer have been hot and dry, and many large wildfires on the West Slope have burned out of control for long periods. These fires required Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers to quickly assist local first responders and firefighters to mitigate community loss and the negative impacts of wildfires. 

The Lee and Elk Fires in Rio Blanco County started on Aug. 2 by lightning strikes and grew quickly, which caused Governor Polis to declare a state disaster emergency. With the disaster declaration, the State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization Plans are activated, and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) coordinates a state response under the Disaster Emergency Response Act through the State Emergency Operations Center.

CPW emergency responders provided law enforcement support through the State Emergency Operations Center by completing the following tasks: 

• Worked for the Fire Incident Management Team to provide 24-hour law enforcement coverage of roadblocks on highways closed for public safety
• Supported the Rio Blanco Sheriff's Office on 24-hour patrol of evacuated areas and general emergency 911 response in the county

CPW officers have shown unwavering dedication despite the challenging conditions, contributing over 2,400 hours of assistance to these two fires, as well as more time on others throughout the state. CPW’s emergency response work, which included assisting in evacuations and working long shifts in extreme weather and under stressful conditions, is a testament to CPW’s mission to support local communities and protect public land while also taking action to refund hunting licenses to ensure the health of wildlife populations impacted in the area.

Many of the CPW staff assisting with the fires had family homes within mandatory evacuation zones. This added an extra level of personal sacrifice to the already demanding roles as they worked tirelessly to assist friends and neighbors in evacuating to safety. 

“A lot has happened this summer in CPW’s Emergency Management world, and we want to recognize our own and other first responders for their dedication to protect our local communities, landscapes and wildlife resources,” said Emergency Management Coordinator Brent Lounsbury. “A CPW officer’s mission for state park and wildlife enforcement makes them also uniquely suited for work in disasters and many other emergencies. We can fill a wide variety of roles, whether that’s more general law enforcement, evacuations, search and rescue, or any kind of emergency work in places with compromised, little or no infrastructure. We’re committed to responding when called upon to support local communities and our state.”

CPW has also responded to other fires this summer, including scoop planes using Stagecoach Reservoir to attack the Crosho Fire, and helping with evacuations for the Lone Pine Fire.

As of now, the Lee Fire is at 137,758 acres and 90% containment, and the Elk Fire is at 14,518 acres and 100% containment. This significant progress, along with the collaborative efforts of many local, state, and federal agencies, brings hope for the eventual resolution of these wildfires. 

To learn more about the Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue Program and ways to support volunteer responders, visit cpw.state.co.us/backcountry-search-and-rescue-program. 

Learn more about CPW law enforcement careers at cpw.state.co.us/careers.