Updated at 1:07 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026
Go here for the most recent information on the Willow fire. This post is no longer being updated.
Our original story continues below.
The Willow fire burning west of Leadville remains a threat to the historic mining town. Emergency officials, however, had not issued a mandatory evacuation order for the community as of Tuesday morning.
Officials first reported the fire near Mount Massive on Sunday afternoon. By Tuesday, it had grown to more than 1,919 acres amid dry, windy conditions and remained uncontained, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4.
“We don’t have any plans for any additional evacuations,” said Michelle Perez, a public information officer with the management team. “Based on the weather we're expecting today, we’re not making any new recommendations at this time.”
Forecasters expect a high of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit and winds blowing at up to 20 mph to the north throughout the day. There’s no significant chance of rain until Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Earlier in the afternoon, emergency officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents and campgrounds around Turquoise Lake. Pre-evacuation notices were issued for western sections of Leadville. A map updated by Park County shows the extent of current evacuation warnings.
Around 90 local, state and federal personnel are responding, according to a Monday evening press briefing. The fire is largely burning in rugged terrain in San Isabel National Forest south of Turquoise Lake, creating a challenge for ground crews.
The fire remains 0% contained as of 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. The cause is still under investigation.
Leadville, population 2,600, sits at more than 10,000 feet above sea level, making it the highest incorporated city in the U.S. At a press conference Monday, Gov. Jared Polis warned that high winds in central Colorado would fuel the Willow fire throughout the day and likely lead to a more expansive evacuation order.
The U.S. Forest Service managed the initial fire response. In an update posted at 5:30 p.m. Monday, it confirmed the blaze grew more active over the course of the afternoon. Helicopters responded by dropping water on more active parts of the fire. Photos taken around 4:30 p.m. showed a thick smoke plume rising from the mountains west of Leadville.
