Wildfires Grow on the Western Slope – worrying BLM; Former Mascot Sues Denver Nuggets

Headlines Thursday August 14, 2025

Wildfire Updates

The Lee Fire is still burning in Northwest Colorado and is now the fifth largest fire in the state’s history. It’s burned more than 120-thousand acres — most of that on public land.

The evacuation area increased yesterday as the fire spread south.  Residents in more of Garfield County, near the town of Rifle, were ordered to evacuate.  Some 1200 firefighters are battling the blaze.

In northern Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, a lot of Bureau of Land Management land is leased for cattle grazing and oil and gas. Bill Mills is the field manager of the BLM’s White River Field Office, based in Meeker.

He says they’ve been working closely with oil and gas operators, as well as grazing lease holders who need access to areas that have been closed due to the fire.“We developed the process for those permitted activities to enter the closure area and still perform their work, with an understanding that we would need to get them out quickly if fire activity changes,” said Mills.

He says there are requirements for oil and gas developers to remove vegetation and do other fire mitigation around wellpads. So far, no oil and gas infrastructure has been damaged.

The Lee fire is the largest of five active fires on the Western Slope.

Last night, Governor Polis declared a disaster emergency for another West Slope fire.  The Crosho fire is burning in Rio Blanco and Routt counties, near Yampa.  The Denver Post reports that fire doubled in size yesterday to over 1700 acres.

Boulder Dog Leashing to Protect Bears Starts Aug.15

Starting Friday, August 15, Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks will require dogs to be leashed on several popular trails to help protect sensitive black bear habitat.

The seasonal on-leash rule applies to parts of Gregory Canyon, Saddle Rock, Amphitheater, Bluebell-Baird, Skunk Canyon, Shadow Canyon South, and the upper Doudy Draw Trail.

Although off-leash dogs are allowed on many trails under Boulder’s Voice and Sight Tag Program, the city urges dog owners to leash their pets anytime wildlife is present to avoid dangerous encounters — especially as bears enter their high-foraging season ahead of hibernation.

Bears drawn into urban areas by trash face serious risks, including being hit by cars or euthanized for losing their fear of people. Residents can help by securing trash and keeping dogs leashed in bear zones.

For trail updates and bear safety tips — including what to do if you see a bear — visit the City of Boulder’s website.

Former Mascot Sues Denver Nuggets for Wrongful Termination

The Denver Nuggets mascot is suing the team’s owner, claiming he was fired illegally after a hip injury. 

According to the Colorado Sun, 31-year-old Drake Solomon  filed a lawsuit Tuesday, alleging Kroenke Sports & Entertainment violated disability protection laws when it terminated him after medical leave.

Solomon became Rocky in 2021, taking the place of his father who retired from the role.  He had hip replacement surgery in 2024, He says when he returned to work after surgery , he was met with skepticism about his health and a hostile work environment.

Solomon was officially let go in August 2024—just months after being told tryouts would be held due to his “impairment.”

Solomon’s lawyer says it’s like firing someone for taking maternity leave.

Solomon says suing wasn’t easy because he loves the Nuggets. He’s seeking unspecified damages.

Update on Wyoming Newspapers

As we reported in yesterday’s morning magazine, eight newspapers across Wyoming were facing closure  after their parent company announced they were shutting down last week.

But now, it looks like they will stay open. This comes after longtime local newspaper executives with Wyoming roots announced Tuesday that they’ll keep them running.

Pinedale Roundup Editor Cali O’Hare says all the fired employees got on a phone call to hear the good news from their former publisher in Torrington.

He told them he was partnering with Jen and Robb Hicks, publishers of the Buffalo Bulletin, to rescue Wyoming’s newspapers.

“ A phone call with 30-some-odd people who were just laid off last week and spent the last six, seven days working nonstop to find a solution. Just screaming and woo hoos and people were so excited,” said O’hare.

She added that they were told they would all continue to get salaries and benefits. She said she thinks her paper will be more sustainable now that it’ll be managed by Wyoming-based owners, rather than a corporation.