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Gold Mountain Fire Reaches 27,698 Acres Near Ouray; Crews Begin Strategic Firing Operations


Description: The Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray, Colorado, is 27,698 acres and 3% contained as firefighters use strategic firing operations to protect Ouray, Ridgway, Highway 550, and nearby communities amid continued evacuation and closure notices.

Gold Mountain Fire Update – July 6, 2026

Size: 27,698 acres | Containment: 3% | Cause: Undetermined | Start Date: June 27, 2026 @ 5:33 p.m.
Location: Approx. 2 miles NE of Ouray, CO | Total Personnel: 824
 
Lighter winds and improved conditions provided the opportunity for firefighters to initiate strategic firing operations to reinforce indirect confinement lines between Baldy Peak and CR 12 yesterday afternoon. Additional firing operations may occur if the right conditions occur over the next few days. The key objective of firing operations is to create containment firelines where firefighters can access and prevent the fire from spreading and protect structures and other values at risk. This includes the town of Ridgway, city of Ouray, the 550 corridor, and communities to the north and northwest. Firefighters on the night shift worked to continue firing operations and reinforce fireline from operations conducted earlier in the day.
 
Additional firefighting resources have been utilized to create two new divisions. Div F is in the area of Cow Creek and Little Owl Creek, and Div R is west of Little Cimarron Road. Breaking up divisions into smaller operational areas provides an opportunity to concentrate strategic suppression efforts and increase protection to communities and other values at risk.
 
Current Situation:
Southwest Fire Perimeter (Divisions A/B): Firefighters made great progress in both Divisions A and B establishing the three percent containment of the fire perimeter. The two divisions are now combined and crews will continue to patrol and mop up hot spots to protect values at risk along the Hwy 550 corridor and the town of Ouray.
 
Western Fire Perimeter (Division C): Firefighters will continue to mop up and secure indirect confinement lines from Cutler Creek north toward the division break with Div D at CR 12. They will also work to prepare indirect firelines northward into Div D to continue strategic firing operations if conditions allow.
 
Northern Fire Perimeter (Divisions D, F, and H): In Div D, strategic firing operations may occur along indirect lines to connect with operations in Div C south of CR 12. Firefighters in Div F will continue to implement structure protection and prepare indirect lines for potential firing operations. Firefighters in Div H will implement construction of indirect confinement lines to the north of Lou Creek to protect structures and values at risk to the west toward Ridgway Reservoir.
 
North of Silver Jack (Divisions P, R, and U): Firefighters will scout to identify direct or indirect line locations to reduce impacts to structures in the Bear Claw and Silver Jack subdivisions. Firefighters in Div R will construct indirect confinement lines to prepare for future firing operations. Firefighters in Div U, located in the area of CR 864 and south of CR 21, will scout for potential fireline locations and assess structures for point protection.
 
East and South Fire Perimeter (Division Z): Firefighters will focus on limiting fire growth from the southern perimeter into Bridalveil Creek and identify and implement point protection to reduce impacts to structures and other values at risk.
 
Weather: Temperatures from 82-86º, humidities at 15-19%, and light west-southwest winds at 4-6mph with gusts up to 13mph are forecasted. There is a 30% chance of afternoon thunderstorms that can produce erratic winds and dry lightning.
 
Evacuations and Closures: For information on evacuations and road closures contact the Ouray County Evacuation Hotline at 970-626-5484 or go to https://ouraycountyco.gov/552/Maps-and-Closures. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests issued a Gold Mountain Wildfire Area Closure Order. Learn more at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts. The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office also issued a partial closure order due to the Gold Mountain Fire. Learn more at https://www.blm.gov/office/uncompahgre-field-office.
 



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