Ouray Today

07/13/2026

Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice.

An aircraft fighting the Gold Mountain Fire went down in Silver Jack Reservoir in southwestern Gunnison County on Sunday night and the body of the pilot has been recovered from the crash. One person was believed to have been on board the aircraft, according to information released earlier Sunday by....

07/05/2026

Today's info and maps. July 05, 2026

07/05/2026

🇺🇸 Ouray Showed Up Strong | July 4, 2026 🇺🇸

Yesterday’s Fourth of July parade turnout was nothing short of impressive. Thank you to our incredible community and to every visitor who came to celebrate, support our local businesses, and stand together during a challenging time.

As the fire continues burning to the north, primarily east of Ridgway, we’re especially grateful to the firefighters and emergency crews working tirelessly to protect our communities. Your dedication and sacrifice do not go unnoticed. 🙏

Thank you to everyone who made the day a reminder of the strength, resilience, and spirit that make this region so special. ❤️🇺🇸

07/05/2026

Jul 5 at 10:39 AM

07/05/2026 Update from Gold Mountain Fire:
Size: 26,405 acres | Containment: 0%

Steep and rugged terrain prevented firefighters from constructing fireline directly in certain areas on the fire front in the Baldy Peak area. In areas where they could not, firefighters and dozers constructed indirect confinement lines from Baldy Peak to County Rd. 12 to establish a fuel break for strategic firing operations. If the right conditions allow, firefighters may take advantage of these favorable conditions and begin the firing operations. Once completed, the firelines will provide firefighters with a line of defense with the highest probability of success should the fire spread in that direction. These strategic firing operations will be very visible to the town of Ridgway and the Highway 550 corridor.

Weather conditions shifted on Saturday, bringing lighter daytime winds and increased afternoon cloud cover. This pattern is expected to continue today. Given the fire's current direction of spread and steep terrain, a Spike Camp has been established on the northeastern portion of the incident. This strategic location reduces travel time for firefighting personnel and positions resources closer to high-priority operational areas and improve response efficiency.

Current Situation:

Southwest Fire Perimeter (Divisions A and B):
Along the Highway 550 corridor north of Ouray and extending toward Ridgway, firefighters continue to protect critical values using heavy equipment parallel to the 550 corridor to create a fire barrier line. Crews are working to prevent the fire from spreading south toward Ouray and to limit growth in the Lenore Lake area. Point protection measures remain in place to reduce impacts to structures and other identified values at risk.

Western Fire Perimeter (Division C):
Firefighters are using direct extinguishment tactics to strengthen and improve firelines along County Road 14A to prevent the fire from advancing west toward Highway 550. Crews are assessing and preparing structures throughout the division, identifying mitigation needs to enhance to protect values at risk along the Highway 550 corridor. Additional work includes constructing direct fireline from Cutler Creek to the dozer line and existing road system north of Crooked Tree, while implementing structure protection measures where necessary.

Northern Fire Perimeter (Divisions D and H):
Crews continue scouting and improving indirect firelines east along Cow Creek to ensure the fire does not threaten critical values within or adjacent to the division. Direct and indirect confinement fireline construction continues near Forest Road 858. Structure preparation and triage is ongoing to ensure homes and other values at risk remain protected.

North of Silver Jack (Divisions U and P):
Firefighters in the High Mesa and Johnson Park areas are scouting potential fireline locations. The fire continues to burn in mixed conifer fuels on the east side of Cow Creek up to the ridge. Crews are assessing values at risk ahead of the fire and preparing suppression actions and structure protection measures as needed.

Southeast Fire Perimeter (Division Z):
Crews continue using a combination of suppression tactics to limit fire spread into the Bridalveil Creek drainage while implementing point protection measures to reduce impacts to structures and other values at risk.

Evacuations and Closures:
For information on evacuations and road closures contact the Ouray County Evacuation Hotline at 970-626-5484 or go here. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests issued a Gold Mountain Wildfire Area Closure Order. The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office also issued a partial closure order.

07/02/2026

Update on the Gold Mountain Fire

06/30/2026

New page for the Gold Mountain Fire. Community meeting tomorrow, June 30 at 7 pm. Details below.

There will be a Community Meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 7pm at Ridgway Elementary School
1115 West Clinton St, Ridgway, CO 81432

The recording of the meeting will be posted on this page on July 1

Ouray County Sheriff's Office
Ouray County Emergency Management
City of Ouray - Government
Mesa County Sheriff's Office
U.S. Forest Service-Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests

06/29/2026

Evacuation Notices have NOT been given for the City of Ouray.

A little prep now will be helpful should we have to.

Stay safe out there.

Gold Mountain Fire Update - June 28, 2026 10:30 PM.
As the Gold Mountain Fire response continues, please keep the following public safety information in mind.

While a pre-evacuation notice has NOT YET BEEN ORDERED as of Sunday evening, June 28, it’s important that City of Ouray residents and visitors be prepared for the possibility of a pre-evacuation notice being called by the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the City of Ouray as fire conditions are monitored.

We encourage you to think through your household or family’s plan should the fire escalate. Please consider putting a Go Bag together with essential items, discuss your family’s evacuation plan, and chat with any neighbors you know who may not have cell service or a smart phone or who may need assistance should a pre-evacuation notice be ordered.

To learn more about the 3 levels of evacuation orders that could be issued in the future depending on fire conditions visit ouraycountyco.gov.

Please review the current evacuation maps as of 9:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28.

As this fire progresses, public safety messaging will be shared through Ouray County Alerts, on the Ouray County Sheriff’s page, City of Ouray and other agency pages as available. If you haven’t signed up for Ouray County Alerts, text OURAYALERTS to 65513, or sign up at ouray.genasys.com/portal.en.

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Mientras continúan las labores de respuesta al incendio de Gold Mountain, tenga en cuenta la siguiente información de seguridad pública.

Mientras el Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia del Condado de Ouray se prepara para la segunda noche del incendio de Gold Mountain, se debe tener en cuenta la siguiente información de seguridad pública:

Aunque hasta la noche del domingo 28 de junio AÚN NO SE HA ORDENADO una orden de preevacuación, es importante que los residentes y visitantes de la ciudad de Ouray estén preparados ante la posibilidad de que la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ouray, en coordinación con la ciudad de Ouray, emita una orden de preevacuación mientras se monitorean las condiciones del incendio.

Les recomendamos que revisen el plan de su hogar o familia en caso de que el incendio se intensifique.Consideren preparar una mochila de emergencia con artículos esenciales, hablen sobre el plan de evacuación de su familia y conversen con cualquier vecino que conozcan que no tenga cobertura celular o un teléfono inteligente, o que pueda necesitar ayuda si se emite una orden de preevacuación.

Para obtener más información sobre los 3 niveles de órdenes de evacuación que podrían emitirse en el futuro según las condiciones del incendio, visite ouraycountyco.gov.

A medida que avance el incendio, se compartirán mensajes de seguridad pública a través de Ouray County Alerts, la página de Facebook del Sheriff del Condado de Ouray, la página de la Ciudad de Ouray y las páginas de otras agencias, según estén disponibles. Si aún no se ha registrado en Ouray County Alerts, envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra OURAYALERTS al 65513.

06/28/2026

Pay attention folks - Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.

Be smart out there!

Alert: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Effective Immediately.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sheriff Enacts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in Ouray County
Ouray County, Colo. (June 28, 2026)

Ouray County will implement stage 2 fire restrictions for all unincorporated areas of the county effective immediately, Sunday, June 28, 2026.

Under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions:
**NO OPEN FIRES**
*No campfires, charcoal grills, wood-burning stoves, chimineas, tiki torches, or any open flames, even at private homes or campgrounds.
*Gas grills or fire pits are allowed if they can be turned on and off and only in areas cleared of flammable materials.
*No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building.
*No chainsaw, or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine, unless it has a working spark arresting device.
*No welding or torches unless in a cleared area at least 10 feet wide and a pressurized fire extinguisher must be on hand.
*No off-road driving or parking: vehicles must stay on established roads, trails or parking areas unless there is no vegetation within 10 feet of the parking area.
*No explosives or fireworks

Violations of these restrictions can be reported to the Ouray County Sheriff's Office at 970-325-7272 or by calling WestCo Dispatch at 970-249-9110.

For more fire-related information on Colorado’s Western Slope please visit West Slope Fire Info: http://www.westslopefireinfo.com/
Community members and visitors are encouraged to sign-up for Emergency Notifications through Ouray County Alerts: https://ouraycountyco.gov/434/Emergency-Notifications

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: El Sheriff establece restricciones de incendio de Fase 2 en el condado de Ouray
Condado de Ouray, Colorado (28 de junio de 2026)

El condado de Ouray implementará restricciones de incendio de Fase 2 en todas las áreas no incorporadas del condado con efecto inmediato, a partir del domingo 28 de junio de 2026.

Bajo las restricciones de incendio de Fase 2:
**PROHIBIDO HACER FUEGO AL AIRE LIBRE**
*Prohibido hacer fogatas, usar parrillas de carbón, estufas de leña, chimeneas de exterior, antorchas tipo tiki o cualquier llama abierta, incluso en viviendas particulares o campamentos.
*Se permiten las parrillas de gas o los fogones de gas siempre que cuenten con un mecanismo de encendido y apagado, y únicamente en áreas libres de materiales inflamables.
*Prohibido fumar, excepto dentro de un vehículo cerrado o un edificio.
*Prohibido el uso de motosierras u otros equipos impulsados ​​por motores de combustión interna, a menos que cuenten con un dispositivo parachispas en buen estado de funcionamiento.
*Prohibido realizar trabajos de soldadura o usar sopletes, a menos que se lleven a cabo en un área despejada de al menos 10 pies (aprox. 3 metros) de ancho y se disponga de un extintor de incendios presurizado en el lugar.
*Prohibido conducir o estacionar fuera de caminos: los vehículos deben permanecer en carreteras, senderos o áreas de estacionamiento establecidas, a menos que no haya vegetación en un radio de 10 pies alrededor de

06/28/2026

Midday update for the Gold Mountain Fire.

June 28, 2026 - NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UPDATE - Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County

Ouray County, CO — Ouray County remains in a declared state of emergency for the Gold Mountain Fire. A U.S. 550 closure remains in effect from the Timber Ridge gas station area to the Whispering Pines Bridge. A closure for the alternate County Road 17 detour may go into effect soon, except for local and essential responder traffic. All mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Lake Lenore, Panoramic Heights, Red Stone Road and Peck’s Trailer Park. No evacuation orders are in place for the City of Ouray, and there are no changes to current evacuation or pre-evacuation areas. Currently, mapping places the fire at approximately 570 acres.

Resources are actively engaged in fire suppression activities, including structure protection and point protection along U.S. 550 and County Road 14. Air resources, including retardant drops, are being used to slow fire spread. Firefighters are employing tactics appropriate to the steep terrain, variable wind conditions and public safety needs, and will continue adjusting suppression actions as conditions change.

As of 10:09 a.m., no structures have been reported lost, and multiple state, federal and local first responders remain on scene. Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 has been activated and is mobilizing to the incident to support response and management efforts. The point of origin has been determined to be on private land. The cause remains under investigation.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the incident area, which includes a no-drone requirement. Strong southwest winds and dry conditions will continue today, with gusts up to 40 mph at higher elevations and relative humidity around 15 percent this afternoon. These conditions may contribute to periods of increased fire activity. Winds are expected to decrease after sunset, with dry and breezy weather continuing into Monday.

Evacuation status remains as follows:
• Mandatory evacuations: Lake Lenore, Panoramic Heights, Redstone Road, Peck’s
Trailer Park
• Pre-evacuation: Whispering Pines to the Black Lake neighborhood along County Road 17
• Prepare: Residents near the fire area should remain prepared for possible changes in evacuation status.

The public is required to stay clear of the fire area and away from the Emergency Operations Center and Incident Command Post locations at the Ouray Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Ridgway Land Use Building and the Ridgway 4H Event Center.

Requests to reestablish Verizon service in the City of Ouray remain pending.

Updates will be posted to the County website as information becomes available.

U.S. Forest Service-Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests

GMUG Fire Information