Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 2

Karsten Milek IC3, Geoffery Harrison IC3(t)

Size:  7,257 acres | Containment: 64% | Total Personnel: 96 | Cause: Lightning

Start Date: July 9, 2026 | Location: Point of origin 7 miles NW of Lake City, CO

Special Message: Lake City, we felt your support.  The conversations, the coffees, the signs and especially your patience. You welcomed the Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team 2 without hesitation. It has been an honor to work beside you and spend time in your businesses. We are grateful for the chance to support you.

Current Situation: Today marks day 55 of the Elk Fire. Five incident management teams, crews from across the country, local partners, and the Lake City community have supported a long, coordinated response.

Wyoming Type 3 IMT 2 is still supporting operations as the fire right-sizes. Crews are working isolated pockets of interior heat, strengthening containment lines, and continue engaging hot spots when conditions allow.

We complete our assignment on September 3 and return management to the Forest. After that date, the Forest will continue to monitor conditions and manage remaining fire activity. Aa a reminder, The Wyoming Type 3 Team leaving does not mean the fire is out. It means the incident has reached a point where local management is the right next step. As coordination of outgoing and incoming resources continues, the public is reminded to follow all Forest Closure orders and travel slowly around ongoing operations in the area.

Thank you, Lake City, Hinsdale County, cooperators, businesses, residents, and everyone who supported this work.

This will be the final Daily Update from Wyoming Type 3 IMT 2. The Elk Fire Facebook page will slow messaging and will be used only if conditions change significantly: www.facebook.com/2026elkfire

Where to Find Information Moving Forward:

• Local Emergency & Community Information: Follow Hinsdale County, Colorado and Hinsdale County Emergency Management on Facebook for ongoing local updates.   https://www.facebook.com/HinsdaleOEM
• Forest Closures Portions of the Elk Fire area remains under closure orders. Current information is available through the U.S. Forest Service – Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) website. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GMUG.NF
• BLM Closures Fire and closure information for the Gunnison Field Office is available through the BLM Southwest District. https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district
• Hunting Access (GMU 66) Hunters with questions about access should contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife – Montrose/Gunnison Office at 970‑641‑7060 or visit 200 S. Spruce St., Gunnison, CO 81230.
• Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) A TFR remains in effect over the Elk Fire area. Unauthorized drones can ground firefighting aircraft. https://knowbeforeyoufly.org/.I  f You Fly, We Can’t. Drone safety information is available through Know Before You Fly, and current TFR details can be found via the FAA. https://tfr.faa.gov.