{"id":2202,"date":"2026-07-01T17:36:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=2202"},"modified":"2026-07-01T17:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:36:20","slug":"colorado-wildfires-gold-mountain-fire-near-ouray-jumps-6000-acres-in-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=2202","title":{"rendered":"Colorado wildfires: Gold Mountain fire near Ouray jumps 6,000 acres in size"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Crews fighting a wildfire that killed three firefighters on Colorado\u2019s Western Slope have gained the first bit of containment on the blaze.<\/p>\n

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The Snyder fire burning along the Colorado-Utah border is one of several wildfires burning in Colorado that together have consumed nearly 98,000 acres, or 153 square miles. That\u2019s roughly the size of Denver.<\/p>\n

As of Tuesday evening, the Snyder fire was Colorado\u2019s only major wildfire with any official containment, with the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team in\u00a0charge reporting<\/span> that 10% of the fire\u2019s perimeter was contained as of Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n

Jump to:<\/strong>\u00a0Aspen Acres fire | Snyder fire\u00a0|\u00a0Gold Mountain fire\u00a0|\u00a0Ferris fire | Willow fire | Air quality alerts<\/p>\n

Aspen Acres fire in Custer and Pueblo counties<\/h4>\n

A wildfire that sparked Monday morning in in southern Colorado continued to grow aggressively Tuesday, expanding to more than 28,000 acres in size \u2014 roughly 44 square miles \u2014 as it destroyed more than 150 structures, injured a firefighter and forced new evacuations, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Damage assessment teams are still working on accessing the structures destroyed by the Aspen Acres fire and will contact property owners directly, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said during a Tuesday afternoon update.<\/p>\n

Roughly 100 Pueblo County structures were believed to have been affected, and another 55 structures \u2014 primarily homes \u2014 were lost in Custer County, according to the Custer County Sheriff\u2019s Office. One firefighter was injured this week while fighting the flames in Custer County, sheriff\u2019s officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile our immediate focus remains on protecting lives and property, we are already preparing for the recovery phase,\u201d Lucero said. \u201cAs we begin that recovery process, I want every person affected by the fire to know that you will not face this journey alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

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There is still no containment on the 28,314-acre fire, but firefighters continue to make good progress, Lucero said.<\/p>\n

Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations in the Beulah, Rye, San Isabel Lake, Aspen Acres, Lazy Acres and Bishops Castle areas, as well as for Colorado 165 from Colorado 96 south to the Pueblo County line, 3R Road to Waterbarrel Road and South Burnt Mill Road to Interstate 25, about 2 miles south of Pueblo\u2019s Southgate area.<\/p>\n

Pre-evacuation orders were issued Wednesday morning for Red Creek on Pueblo County Road 387, near the Custer County line, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe prepared to leave,\u201d sheriff\u2019s officials said. \u201cIf you may need additional time to evacuate, you may want to leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Evacuated residents can seek shelter at the Pueblo County Recreation Center, 1650 Cooper Place, or the Wetmore Community Center, 95 County Road 393.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday issued a temporary closure order for parts of the San Carlos Ranger District \u201cto protect public health and safety during firefighting operations.\u201d The closure will remain in effect until July 31 or until the agency rescinds it.<\/p>\n

\u201cEntry into the fire area, as well as use of roads and trails within the closure zone, is prohibited,\u201d fire officials wrote in the order.<\/p>\n

The closure includes all U.S. Forest Service lands east and north of Colorado 69, south of Colorado 96 and west of Interstate 25.<\/p>\n

The wildfire, for which Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has issued a disaster declaration, was reported as a spot fire near the Aspen Acres campground shortly before 6 a.m. Monday. It grew to 362 acres by 10 a.m., reached 2,476 acres around noon and exploded in size to 22,827 acres Monday evening, according to fire officials.<\/p>\n

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help with the firefighting costs in southern Colorado, according to a news release from the agency. FEMA officials ruled that the Aspen Acres fire \u201cthreatened such destruction that it would constitute a major disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n

Federal funding will cover 75% of the state\u2019s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires, according to the federal agency. Eligible expenses can include field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies.<\/p>\n

Officials with the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Department of Public Safety are investigating the cause of the fire, according to the Custer County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Snyder fire in Mesa County and Utah<\/h4>\n

Colorado\u2019s largest wildfire was burning on more than 30,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border on Wednesday, according to fire officials.<\/p>\n

As of Tuesday evening, the Snyder fire had scorched roughly 30,215 acres, or 47 square miles, with 10% containment, according to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team in charge. The small increase reported Tuesday night is the team\u2019s first foothold on containment.<\/p>\n

\u201cFire personnel will continue to look for opportunities tomorrow where they can safely engage directly with the fire perimeter,\u201d fire officials said in a Tuesday evening update announcing the containment increase.<\/p>\n

Smoke from fires to the west has \u201cshaded out\u201d the Snyder fire, diminishing its activity, officials said in a Wednesday morning update.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen heavy smoke occurs over a fire area, it can diminish fire intensity by cooling temperatures and lessening wind gusts,\u201d fire officials stated in the update.<\/p>\n

The Snyder fire is the result of four wildfires merging \u2014 Utah\u2019s Snyder Mesa and Jones fires and Colorado\u2019s Knowles and Gore fires in Mesa County. The two Utah wildfires spread into Colorado on Saturday, overtaking a group of firefighters fighting the Mesa County fires and killing three of them. At that time, the fatal blaze prompted Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to issue a disaster declaration.<\/p>\n

The five firefighters were trying to deploy their tent-like shelters when they were overcome, officials said.<\/p>\n

U.S. Forest Service officials identified the firefighters who died as 38-year-old Emily Barker of Michigan, 27-year-old Nick Hutcherson of Arizona and 27-year-old Sydney Watson of Alabama. Two other firefighters sustained burn injuries and remained hospitalized Monday in the Denver area.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unknown when the fire was last mapped and how much of the damage is in each of the two states, but fire maps appear to show most of the burn area on the Western Slope.<\/p>\n

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Pre-evacuation notices were issued on Sunday for residents living in the Glade Park area, the Kingsview subdivision and the Pollock Canyon Estates, according to the Mesa County Sheriff\u2019s Office. That includes the area south of the Colorado River to BS Road and west of Colorado 340. The sheriff also\u00a0closed A 2\/10 Road at DS Road and BS Road\u00a0before the Bureau of Land Management boundary, the Kokopelli Trail Road between Loma and Mack and 16 5\/10 Road to Glade Park at Monument Road and Rim Rock Drive,\u00a0according to law enforcement.<\/p>\n

As of Wednesday morning, none of those notices had been lifted.<\/p>\n

The sheriff\u2019s office and the American Red Cross are operating a Snyder Mesa fire evacuation center at Grand Junction High School, 1400 N. Fifth St.<\/p>\n

Gold Mountain fire near Ouray<\/h4>\n

A wildfire burning north of Ouray jumped in size by more than 6,000 acres on Tuesday, spurred on by gusty winds and dry weather, according to fire officials.<\/p>\n

The Gold Mountain fire had consumed an estimated 14,960 acres \u2014 roughly 23 square miles \u2014 as of Wednesday morning, up from the 8,277-acre burn area reported the morning before.<\/p>\n

The wildfire sparked Saturday north of Ouray, forcing evacuations. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster declaration for the Gold Mountain fire on Sunday.<\/p>\n

As of Wednesday morning, mandatory evacuation orders remained active northwest and southwest of the fire, according to Ouray County\u2019s evacuation map.<\/p>\n

The southern evacuation zone included Lake Lenore and was bordered to the west by U.S. 550, to the north by Cutler Creek, to the east by the wildfire burn area and to the south by Bridalveil Creek. The northern evacuation zone was bordered to the west by Ouray County Road 10, to the north by Cow and Deer creeks, to the east by Lou Creek Pass and to the south by Bald Peak and the wildfire.<\/p>\n

Pre-evacuation orders were also issued for southwest Gunnison County, along Coal Creek and the Cimarron Ridge, according to the map.<\/p>\n

An evacuation shelter was opened at the Ridgway Secondary School, 1200 Green St., according to county officials.<\/p>\n

As of Wednesday morning, U.S. 550 remained closed in both directions between 10th Avenue and Ouray County Road 23 for the fire, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Forest Service shut down public access to all forest lands within Ouray, Gunnison and Hinsdale counties east of U.S. 550, south of U.S. 50, west of Pinnacle Ridge, north of Matterhorn Peak and northeast of Cascade and Bridalveil creeks. That includes the Big Cimarron Campground, Beaver Lake Campground, Silver Jack Boat Ramp, Silver Jack Campground and Jackson Guard Station.<\/p>\n

Federal officials said the order will remain in effect until Oct. 1 or until rescinded. Violating the closure order is a misdemeanor crime punishable by a $5,000 fine for people, a $10,000 fine for organizations, up to six months in jail or a combination of those.<\/p>\n

Ferris fire in San Juan National Forest, near Dolores<\/h4>\n

The Ferris fire, which started Saturday as three separate fires in southwestern Colorado\u2019s San Juan National Forest, has consumed more than 23,000 acres with no containment, according to federal officials.<\/p>\n

As of Wednesday morning, the lightning-sparked wildfire was estimated to be burning on 23,287 acres, according to fire officials. That\u2019s just over 36 square miles.<\/p>\n

The Ferris, Far Draw and Doe fires \u2014 now called the Ferris fire \u2014 started in the San Juan National Forest\u2019s Glade area near Narraguinnep Canyon, north of Dolores, according to the Forest Service.<\/p>\n

Mandatory evacuations were issued for residents north and east of the wildfires, according to the Dolores County Office of Emergency Management. The evacuation area was bordered to the north by Disappointment Road, to the south by the Glade Ranch community, to the west by the fire and to the east by Road 30, according to the office.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Forest Service also closed the Bradfield Bridge Campground, Forest Service Road 504 to the base of McPhee Dam, Forest Service Road 521 and Forest Service Road 504 \u201cout of an abundance of caution,\u201d\u00a0federal officials said.<\/p>\n

Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Tuesday cut off public access to the Lone Dome State Wildlife Area in Dolores and Montezuma counties, according to a news release from the agency. As fire conditions continue to change, further closures may be put into place for public safety and to support firefighting efforts, wildlife officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re implementing the closure to support the efforts by the U.S. Forest Service and the counties to keep the public out of the active fire area and to protect public and firefighter safety,\u201d CPW Area Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta stated in the release. \u201cWe appreciate the public\u2019s assistance in respecting these closures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow fire near Leadville<\/h4>\n

The Willow fire sparked Sunday evening near the Leadville National Fish Hatchery and quickly grew across more than 2,000 acres, prompting evacuations for residents west of town.<\/p>\n

The wildfire was first reported at about 4:20 p.m. Sunday by the Lake County Office of Emergency Management. At that time, it was burning on a handful of U.S. Forest Service acres below Mount Massive, near Twin Mounds, county officials said.<\/p>\n

By Wednesday morning, the fire had spread to an estimated 2,011 acres with no containment in the San Isabel National Forest, according to Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4, which is leading the fire response. That\u2019s roughly 3 square miles.<\/p>\n

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster declaration for the fire on Monday.<\/p>\n

As of Wednesday morning, the mandatory evacuation area included Turquoise Lake and was bordered to the south by Rock Creek, to the west by Hagerman Pass, to the north by Galena Mountain and to the east by Leadville, according to the Lake County evacuation map. The Leadville area and homes north of the fire along U.S. 24 were on pre-evacuation status at that time.<\/p>\n

Lake County officials said evacuations included all residents on County Road 4 east to County Road 9D, County Road 9, County Road 9D, County Road 5A, County Road 48, County Road 99, all trails from the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, all campgrounds around Turquoise Lake, the Colorado Trail and Hagerman Pass into Pitkin County.<\/p>\n

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.<\/p>\n

Air quality alerts<\/h4>\n

As wildfires continue to burn across Colorado, state health officials have issued another air quality advisory for the western state.<\/p>\n

The newest alert from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will remain in effect until at least 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the agency.<\/p>\n

Smoke could create unhealthy conditions near and downwind of the fires burning in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, including in Chaffee,\u00a0Clear Creek,\u00a0Custer, Delta, Dolores,\u00a0Eagle,\u00a0El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin,\u00a0Grand, Gunnison,\u00a0Huerfano, Jackson, Lake,\u00a0Mesa,\u00a0Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray,\u00a0Park,\u00a0Pitkin,\u00a0Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache, San Miguel,\u00a0Summit and Teller counties, according to state health officials.<\/p>\n

If the smoke drops visibility to less than 5 miles in an area, it has reached unhealthy levels, according to the agency. Those with heart disease and respiratory illnesses, young children and older adults are more at risk.<\/p>\n

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This is a developing story and may be updated.<\/em><\/p>\n