Active Wildfires
Elk WildfireColorado | 2026
Elk Wildfire is a reported wildfire in Lake City, Hinsdale, Colorado. The latest available agency record reports 7,257 acres and 73% containment. The agency record was updated Sep 25, 2026, 4:44 PM ET. NASA FIRMS heat shown on the map is a separate satellite observation and is not automatically attributed to this incident.
Official incident summary
Reported acreage, containment, discovery and location from the available agency record.
73% reported contained. A containment percentage does not establish that the fire is out.
Elk Wildfire map
The fire pin and blue ring mark this incident's reported point. They are not a fire boundary or evacuation zone.
About Elk Wildfire
WFIGS/NIFC gives Jul 9, 2026, 11:46 AM ET as the reported discovery date and time. The cause remains listed as "Undetermined", so this record does not establish a specific cause.
Agency location or incident note: “7 Miles NW from Lake City, CO”.
The current record lists 7 personnel. Jurisdiction is listed as USFS. Reported fuels or fuel models include Short Grass (1 foot) and Timber (Grass and Understory). Reported fire behavior is described as Minimal; Smoldering; Creeping.
- Discovery
- Jul 9, 2026
- Reported cause
- Undetermined
- Personnel
- 7
- Agency
- USFS
Source note: assembled automatically by WildfireSignal from WFIGS/NIFC agency records, not on-scene reporting. Details describe the available record, not verified conditions right now. How we use this data.
What changed in the saved reports?
These are changes between saved records, not a measured spread rate. Decreases can reflect mapping corrections; unchanged figures do not prove conditions are unchanged.
Range: 7,257 to 7,257 acres. Exact values are in the snapshot table.
Range: 73 to 73%. Exact values are in the snapshot table.
View saved snapshot table (42)
Collection begins when WildfireSignal first observes a record. Up to 48 recent observations are shown, within the existing 35-day retention window.
| Saved by WildfireSignal | Agency record updated | Reported acres | Containment | Feed presence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed | ||
| 7,257 | 73% | In observed feed |
Incident facts
- Reported location
- Lake City, Hinsdale, Colorado
- Discovery
- Reported cause
- Undetermined
- Personnel reported
- 7
- Primary fuel / fuel model
- Short Grass (1 foot)
- Secondary fuel / fuel model
- Timber (Grass and Understory)
- Reported fire behavior
- Minimal
- Behavior detail
- Smoldering
- Behavior detail
- Creeping
- Behavior detail
- Smoldering
- Jurisdictional agency
- USFS
- Management organization
- Type 4 IC
- Incident complexity
- Type 4 Incident
- Incident identifier
- 2026-COGMF-000114
- Situation report date
- Reported coordinates
- 38.1242, -107.3548
Optional facts appear only when present in the feed. Agency abbreviations and fuel-model labels are shown as reported, without guessing missing details.
Questions about Elk Wildfire
Where is Elk Wildfire?
The official incident record places it in Lake City, Hinsdale, Colorado. The map pin is a reported location, not the full fire boundary.
How large is Elk Wildfire?
The latest available record reports 7,257 acres (approximately 2,937 hectares). This is reported incident size, not a measurement of current flames, and agencies can revise it.
How contained is Elk Wildfire?
The latest available record reports 73% containment. Containment describes control work intended to stop spread. It is not the percentage extinguished or an all-clear for nearby communities.
When was Elk Wildfire discovered?
The reported discovery date is Jul 9, 2026, 11:46 AM ET. Discovery time may differ from ignition time; elapsed time does not establish continuous burning.
Where should I check evacuation orders and road closures?
Use local emergency management, the sheriff or other law enforcement, and official fire-agency updates. WildfireSignal does not verify evacuation zones, open roads, or safe travel routes. The official-information section provides starting points; it does not establish that orders are present or absent.
Why can the map and the incident report differ?
Agency records, mapped perimeters and NASA satellite detections are updated on different schedules. Satellite heat near a fire is not automatically attributed to that incident. Older or unavailable data does not establish that an area is safe.