The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Eagle County beginning Sunday, June 7th and continuing through Wednesday June 10th, due to a combination of critically low humidity, strong winds, hot temperatures, and increasingly dry fuels.
A Red Flag Warning is issued when critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or expected shortly. These conditions significantly increase the likelihood that any wildfire start could spread rapidly, exhibit extreme fire behavior, and become difficult to suppress.
Current forecast conditions for Eagle County include:
• High temperatures in the mid-80s to upper-80s
• Afternoon relative humidity values between 6% and 10%
• Sustained winds ranging from 20–40 mph
• Wind gusts potentially exceeding 50 mph on Tuesday and Wednesday
• Little to no meaningful precipitation in the forecast
• Extremely dry vegetation across lower and mid elevations
The combination of strong winds and single-digit humidity is particularly concerning. Under these conditions, fires can spread rapidly, spot ahead of the main fire, and exhibit unpredictable behavior.
Fire danger across Eagle County remains HIGH and is being driven by multiple fuel types. While grasses at lower elevations continue to cure and become more receptive to ignition, our greatest concern remains the timber and brush components throughout the county. Heavy dead and down fuels, dense timber stands, and brush fields have continued to dry and are capable of supporting intense fire behavior and prolonged suppression efforts if a wildfire becomes established.
Over the next several days, the period of greatest concern will generally occur between late morning and early evening when temperatures peak, humidity reaches its lowest levels, and winds are strongest.
Eagle Valley Wildland, local fire districts, municipal partners, and state and federal agencies are actively monitoring conditions and preparing for an elevated fire environment. Additional staffing and operational readiness measures are in place to ensure a rapid response to any wildfire starts.
We ask all residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution with any activity that could create a spark, including:
• Operating equipment in dry vegetation
• Parking vehicles in tall grass
• Dragging trailer chains
• Outdoor burning or recreational fires where permitted
• Welding, grinding, or other spark-producing activities
Preventing a wildfire start during Red Flag conditions is the single most effective action we can take to protect our communities.
We will continue to provide updates as conditions evolve throughout the week.