Colorado wildfire managers said the Derby Fire in Eagle County expanded rapidly overnight, reaching 2,624 acres by Thursday morning, according to InciWeb and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. The blaze, which ignited on Aug. 16 about 15 miles north of Dotsero in the White River National Forest, roughly tripled in size on Tuesday and doubled again over the following 24 hours amid hot, dry conditions. Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents along Sweetwater Road and segments of Colorado River Road from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek. Derby Mesa Loop remains under pre-evacuation status. No injuries or structural losses have been reported, but officials urged residents to monitor the Eagle County Public Safety Information website for real-time updates. Fire crews are concentrating on protecting homes and reinforcing containment lines while assessing additional resource needs should winds intensify. The Derby Fire, sparked by lightning, is one of several blazes burning on Colorado’s Western Slope during a month of heightened wildfire activity across the state.