Gold Mountain Fire Holds at 90% Containment, Grows to 39,532 Acres Near Ouray

Description: Gold Mountain Fire remains 90% contained at 39,532 acres near Ouray, Colorado, as crews respond to increased fire activity in the Middle Fork Cimarron River area...


Published: 6 hours ago
Byline: SECO News

Fire Update – Gold Mountain Fire
Saturday, August 8, 2026 – 8:00 a.m.
 
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1
Justin Conrad, Incident Commander
 
Information Phone: 970-355-3286
Email: 2026.goldmountain@firenet.gov
Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 
Special Note: Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 will transfer command of the Gold Mountain Fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 7:00 a.m.
 
Current Situation: Branches I and III consolidated into Gold Mountain Branch. The fire grew to 39,532 acres with growth occurring in the Middle Fork Cimarron River area. Firefighters look for opportunities to safely address areas where there is an increase in fire activity, cooling them with water and extinguishing hotspots. Helicopters dropped water where firefighters saw flare-ups within containments lines close to the Ouray and Gunnison counties boundary, southwest of Silver Jack Reservoir.
Firefighters are in the final stages of suppression repair in the northern area of the fire. A small amount of dozerline in Division F still needs repair and heavy equipment crews continue to support suppression repair operations. Dozerline repair near the Fish Creek Reservoirs is anticipated to continue for a few more days.
 
Road grading is near completion along roadways utilized as indirect containment lines in Divisions F, P/R, and U. As repair work is completed, heavy equipment and operators demobilize to support other incidents. Divisions A-D and Z are unstaffed, as containment is established and necessary suppression repair is complete.
 
Weather and Fire Behavior: Elevated Fire Weather conditions continue through Saturday. Higher temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds will persist in the area, so rising smoke will be visible as stump holes, roots, and large fuels continue to burn within the fire’s perimeter.
 
Closure Orders: Closure orders are still in effect throughout areas of the Gold Mountain Fire. For current closure information, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../gold-mountain-wildfire-area....
No Fly Zone: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the Gold Mountain and Elk Fire areas is in effect. Flying drones near the fire is prohibited and can interfere with firefighting aircraft, potentially grounding aerial suppression operations. For more information on flight restrictions, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.
 
Fire Statistics:
Size: 39,532 acres
Containment: 90%
Total Personnel: 184
Location: 2 miles NE of Ouray, CO
Reported: June 27, 2026
Cause: Undetermined
 
For More Information:
Information Phone: 970-355-3286
Email: 2026.goldmountain@firenet.gov


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