Gold Mountain Fire Grows to 39,710 Acres, Remains 87% Contained as Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Begin

Description: The Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray has reached 39,710 acres and remains 87% contained as crews target hot spots and Stage 1 fire restrictions take effect...


Published: 08/20/2026
Byline: SECO News

Fire Update – Gold Mountain Fire
Thursday, August 20, 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: 39,710 acres | Containment: 87% | Cause: Undetermined | Start Date: June 27, 2026 @ 5:33 p.m. | Location: Approx. 2 miles NE of Ouray, CO | Total Personnel: 96
 
Special Message: The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests moved to stage 1 fire restrictions today. Even under stage 1, the public should remain extra cautious by fully extinguishing campfires and remembering that fires are only allowed in developed, agency-issued fire rings. For more information about fire restrictions please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../alerts/stage-1-fire-prohibitions.
 
Current Situation: Smoke and flame may continue to be visible in the evenings in the fire area, as seen on Tuesday night above Lake Lenor. Crews revisited that area yesterday to check for hot spots and extinguish any remaining heat. Fire behavior will remain minimal, however as the days warm and the humidity drops, isolated tree torching and smoke will be more apparent across the fire landscape. The 20-person hand crew continue to work from east to west along Cimarron Ridge, locating and extinguishing hot spots with support from helicopter bucket drops. Crews focused on the fire’s “fingers,” or narrow extensions of the fire perimeter, where pockets of heat can remain in heavy fuels and contribute to additional fire spread if conditions become warmer, drier, or windier.
 
Working together, two ten-person Wildland Fire Modules continue to construct direct fireline along the eastern flank of the East Fork, and indirect fireline between East and West Fork. As the humidity dropped yesterday the spruce and fir in the drainage became more available to burn and the fire activity increased. This portion of the line is important to prevent fire spread to the north and into the neighborhoods.
 
Engine crews continued working in the Nate Creek drainage. Even when little or no flame is visible, heat can persist beneath vegetation, logs, roots, and other fuels. Crews continue checking and extinguishing hot spots well after visible fire activity decreases.
 
Weather and Fire Behavior: Lingering moisture will bring the potential for a few scattered thunderstorms this afternoon, though the fire area is expected to remain mostly dry. Temperatures and relative humidity will be similar to recent days, with near-normal temperatures and moderate humidity recovery overnight. Although fire behavior remains minimal, the public may see intermittent smoke as crews locate and extinguish remaining pockets of heat.
 
Closure Orders: Closure orders are still in effect throughout areas of the Gold Mountain Fire, including Owl Pass Road. For current closure information, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../gold-mountain-wildfire-area....
 
Hunting Information: Questions about Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management road, trail, and recreation closures or when areas may reopen, contact the Ouray Ranger District at 970-240-5300. Hunters with questions about hunting access in Game Management Unit 65 should contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Montrose Office at 970-252-6000.
 
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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