The Willow wildfire began near Lake, Colorado on June 28 and has burned 6,408 acres with 29 percent containment. Homes in the affected area face direct fire damage as the human-caused incident remains largely active.
Overview written from official NASA EONET and National Interagency Fire Center/IRWIN data.
- Type
- Wildfires
- Official size
- 6,408 acres
- Containment
- 29%
- Cause
- Human
- Began
- Status
- Ongoing
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Affected areas & guides
Every area named for this event, per the official source. Open yours for damage guides — what to do first, and how to reach a vetted restoration pro, 24/7.
Lake, Colorado
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Affected area map
The shaded area is the affected-area perimeter reported for this event by NASA EONET (Lake, Colorado), colored by its significance. Pan and zoom to explore the map; when more than one observation exists, use the slider below to step through how the reported area changed.
Official size & containment
Official incident size and containment reported through NIFC / IRWIN, as we observed it. Newest first.
- 6,408 acres +555 29% contained
- 5,853 acres ±0 33% contained
- 5,853 acres +489 33% contained
- 5,364 acres +865 25% contained
- 4,499 acres ±0 22% contained
- 4,499 acres +33 22% contained
- 4,466 acres ±0 22% contained
- 4,466 acres +102 22% contained
Show 3 earlier observations
- 4,364 acres ±0 16% contained
- 4,364 acres +31 16% contained
- 4,333 acres 10% contained
Shown as reported by our sources — not an official product. For current advisories and the authoritative map, see NASA EONET ↗.
Latest updates
Official updates and news coverage for this event, newest first — National Weather Service products, local storm reports, incident updates and press headlines. Official items are verbatim government text; news headlines link out to the original outlet.
- Forecast discussion NWS PUB
Area Forecast Discussion
Isolated afternoon thunderstorms expected over higher terrain today, with best chance along the Continental Divide.
Show full text Hide full text
000 FXUS65 KPUB 141116 AFDPUB
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 516 AM MDT Tue Jul 14 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms expected over the higher terrain again today, with the best chance for a storm along the Continental Divide.
- Moisture increases from Wednesday into the weekend over the mountains, bringing widespread thunderstorms and significant rainfall to the Continental Divide, with lighter amounts farther east over most interior valleys and the eastern mountains.
- I-25 corridor and eastern plains remain mostly dry and hot through the week into the weekend, before moisture begins to creep eastward, potentially bringing storms to areas east of the mountains early next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 1242 AM MDT Tue Jul 14 2026
Little change in the weather pattern today, with upper ridge from the Rockies into the nrn plains and main tap of mid-level moisture staying mostly west of Colorado through the day. Still enough residual moisture in place for another round of isolated afternoon storms over the higher terrain, with the best chance for storms over the Eastern San Juans, where moist…
- News Colorado Public Radio
Willow fire: Evacuations scaled back, authorities start issuing re-entry cards
- News KOAA News 5
Willow Fire: Crews make progress in Leadville-area fire as containment reaches 10%
- News SummitDaily.com
Fire investigators expected to reach Willow Fire origin to determine cause, as scorched area grows and containment hits 5%
Show 4 earlier updates
- FEMA Federal declaration
Fire Management Assistance declaration: WILLOW FIRE (Colorado)
- The Leadville Herald News
- FEMA Federal declaration
Fire Management Assistance declaration: GOLD MOUNTAIN FIRE (Colorado)
- Ark Valley Voice News
Willow Fire Near Turquoise Lake at 1066 Acres, No Major Changes Overnight
Updates are captured automatically from official and news sources, and may lag the live source. For the very latest, see NASA EONET ↗.