This event is no longer active — it's kept here as a record. Recovery may still be underway; the guidance below applies.
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
- 7,196 acres
- Containment
- 64%
- Cause
- Human
- Began
- Status
- Inactive
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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 hazard type. 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.
Interactive affected-area map
Lake, Colorado · ≈ 12 sq mi reported extent · Enable JavaScript to explore the map.
2026-07-24 23:55 UTC · ≈ 12 sq mi · snapshot 11 of 11
View the timeline — how the reported area changed
Official size & containment
Official incident size and containment reported through NIFC / IRWIN, as we observed it. Newest first.
- 7,196 acres ±0 64% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 62% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 62% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 62% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 62% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 59% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 58% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 55% contained
Show 25 earlier observations
- 7,196 acres ±0 51% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 48% contained
- 7,196 acres ±0 48% contained
- 7,196 acres +15 48% contained
- 7,181 acres +23 41% contained
- 7,158 acres +55 37% contained
- 7,103 acres +136 37% contained
- 6,967 acres ±0 37% contained
- 6,967 acres +90 37% contained
- 6,877 acres +16 37% contained
- 6,861 acres +322 37% contained
- 6,539 acres ±0 28% contained
- 6,539 acres ±0 28% contained
- 6,539 acres +131 28% contained
- 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
- 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 ↗.
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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
Scattered to numerous storms today and tomorrow may produce heavy rain and flash flooding, particularly over burn scar areas.
Show full text Hide full text
000 FXUS65 KPUB 281936 AFDPUB
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 136 PM MDT Tue Jul 28 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered to numerous storms expected TODAY and TOMORROW over the region; Storms capable of heavy rain
- A few severe storms today, Flash flooding possible.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 134 PM MDT Tue Jul 28 2026
As of early afternoon, numerous storms already noted over the CONTDVD region with scattered storms along the S mtns and Pikes Peak region. 50+ dbz cores already noted in several storms. Dewpts higher all areas with near 70 dwpts along US50 corridor over the plains east of KPUB. Observed PWATs over the plains above 150 to 200% of normal with 100-150% over interior mtns.
Main concern today will obviously be flash flooding over the burn scars, especially the Aspen Acres burn area. Photos starting to show mudflows in the central part of the AA burn scar and if we get a strong storm, the potential for mud flows/flash flooding will be high.
Additionally, any storm which moves slow/trains will have the potential to produce flash flooding today
Decent cape of 1000-1500 and some very modest shear will allow for a few lo…
- News kktv.com
New management team takes over management of Aspen Acres Fire ; nearly at 102K acres , 66 % containment
- News vaildaily.com
Leadville Race Series unveils adjusted course for mountain bike stage race
- News kktv.com
Huerfano County zones downgrade to pre - evacuation status ; Aspen Acres Fire remains at 101K+ acres , 61 % containment
Show 33 earlier updates
- vaildaily.com News
- gazette.com News
Colorado wildfires : Aspen Acres surpasses 101 , 000 acres burned
- aspentimes.com News
- postindependent.com News
- denverpost.com News
Colorado wildfires : Evacuations reissued for Custer County residents near Aspen Acres fire
- vaildaily.com News
- aspentimes.com News
- postindependent.com News
- kktv.com News
- eptrail.com News
Colorado wildfire updates on Aspen Acres , Gold Mountain , Elk and more
- greeleytribune.com News
Colorado wildfires : 12 injuries reported in Willow fire near Leadville
- kktv.com News
- gazette.com News
- eptrail.com News
Colorado wildfires : 12 injuries reported in Willow fire near Leadville
- The Colorado Sun News
Wildfires scorch Colorado as crews race to fortify containment lines
- koaa.com News
Leadville only publicly accessible pool could close in the next few months
- canoncitydailyrecord.com News
Colorado wildfires : 12 injuries reported in Willow fire near Leadville
- The Denver Post News
- KUNC News
As the Willow Fire continues to burn, Leadville residents watch and wait
- The Colorado Sun News
Pilot killed when aircraft fighting Gold Mountain fire near Ouray crashes into reservoir
- 9News News
Willow Fire burns more than 7,100 acres near Leadville, officials say fire human-caused
- Colorado Public Radio News
Willow fire: Evacuations scaled back, authorities start issuing re-entry cards
- KOAA News 5 News
Willow Fire: Crews make progress in Leadville-area fire as containment reaches 10%
- Denver7 News
Willow Fire: Blaze burns more than 7K acres, containment grows to 58%
- SummitDaily.com News
- FEMA Federal declaration
Fire Management Assistance declaration: WILLOW FIRE (Colorado)
- SummitDaily.com News
Willow Fire officials work to inform residents as evacuation zones grow Saturday amid 0% containment
- The Leadville Herald News
- 9News News
- FEMA Federal declaration
Fire Management Assistance declaration: GOLD MOUNTAIN FIRE (Colorado)
- InciWeb Incident update
- Ark Valley Voice News
Willow Fire Near Turquoise Lake at 1066 Acres, No Major Changes Overnight
- Denver7 News
Colorado wildfires: The latest on evacuations, acres burned, containment and more
Updates are captured automatically from official and news sources, and may lag the live source. For the very latest, see NASA EONET ↗.