Gold Mountain Fire Update: 39,646 Acres, 87% Contained Near Ouray, Colorado

Description: Gold Mountain Fire reaches 39,646 acres and is 87% contained near Ouray, Colorado, as crews address heat on Cimarron Ridge and storms raise flash-flood risks...


Published: 6 minutes ago
Byline: SECO News

Fire Update – Gold Mountain Fire
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 – 8:00 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2
Rodney Redinger, Incident Commander
 
Information Phone: 970-355-3286
Email: 2026.goldmountain@firenet.gov
Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 
Size: 39,646 acres | Containment: 87% | Cause: Undetermined | Start Date: June 27, 2026 @ 5:33p.m.
Location: Approx. 2 miles NE of Ouray, CO | Total Personnel: 127
 
Safety Message: Burned areas are especially vulnerable to flash flooding, debris flows, and falling rocks during these events. Firefighters and the public should remain alert and use caution when traveling in and around the burned area, especially during and after storms. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management closures remain in effect for firefighter and public safety. Please avoid this area to ensure the safety of fire personnel.
 
Current Situation: The Gold Mountain Fire grew in the Cimarron Ridge area yesterday, growing to 39,646 acres, and resulting in a slight decrease in containment. Tatanka Hotshots are working in that area to mop up heat and reestablish containment. A Type 1 helicopter was used to deliver 30,000 gallons of water in support of the ground crew, and an Unmanned Aerial System with infrared capability was used to map residual heat near the fire perimeter.
 
Suppression repair has been completed along most of the Gold Mountain fire perimeter, with the exception of some road maintenance needs in Division A-D, F/H/K, P/R and U, and some remaining suppression repair and removal of log decks in P/R, and U.
 
Weather and Fire Behavior: Weather today is expected to be similar to yesterday, with increased chances for precipitation. Increasing moisture is moving into the fire area with light winds out of the southwest. Temperatures are expected to be in the low- to mid-80s with minimum relative humidity around 20%. Storms are expected to begin forming this afternoon, bringing lightning and scattered, isolated showers. Smoke may be visible as stump holes, roots, and large fuels continue to burn within the fire’s perimeter.
 
A continued gradual increase in atmospheric moisture is predicted over the next several days, which will bring increasing chances of precipitation through the week.
 
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 safe drone operations, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org. For information on the TFR visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
 
For More Information:
Information Phone: 970-355-3286
Email: 2026.goldmountain@firenet.gov


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