A devastating weekend of wildfires across Colorado’s Western Slope has resulted in a statewide disaster declaration, extensive mandatory evacuations, and the tragic deaths of three wildland firefighters near the Utah-Colorado border. Extreme fire behavior, fueled by single-digit humidity and wind gusts exceeding 40 mph, has crippled initial containment efforts across multiple major incidents, prompting Governor Jared Polis to mobilize the Colorado National Guard.

Tragedy on the State Line

Early Sunday morning, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service confirmed that three firefighters were killed and two others were hospitalized with burn injuries following a burnover on Saturday. This sudden event, where a fire rapidly overtakes firefighters or their equipment, occurred as the crew was battling the Knowles Canyon and Gore fires. These blazes have since merged with the Jones and Snyder fires to form the massive Snyder Mesa Fire.

The fatalities mark the first line-of-duty deaths for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service since the Department of the Interior consolidated its wildland firefighting forces into a single agency. Governor Polis stated Sunday morning that the State of Colorado mourns alongside the loved ones of those lost and their fellow crew members who continue to battle the flames.

The Snyder Mesa Fire has exploded to an estimated 28,000 acres, crossing from Utah’s Grand County into Colorado’s Mesa County with zero percent containment. Following the rapid expansion, Governor Polis issued a verbal disaster emergency declaration on Saturday. This action activated the State Emergency Operations Plan and authorized the Colorado National Guard to assist in the recovery of the fallen firefighters and support widespread suppression efforts.

Gold Mountain Fire Threatens Ouray County

Further south, Ouray County has declared a local state of emergency as the Gold Mountain Fire rapidly expands. Sparking Saturday afternoon north of Ouray and below the Gold Mountain Ranch, the blaze grew from an estimated 50 acres Saturday night to 570 acres by Sunday morning. The fire is burning in exceptionally steep, rugged terrain off U.S. Highway 550, complicating ground attacks. Persistent high winds grounded much of the planned aerial response on Saturday, though limited fixed-wing slurry drops and helicopter water drops from the Ridgway Reservoir were achieved by mid-day Sunday.

Mandatory evacuation orders are strictly enforced for neighborhoods north of Ouray. Residents in Lake Lenore, Panoramic Heights, Redstone Road, Peck’s Trailer Park, and all areas along County Road 14 and 14A have been ordered to leave immediately. Authorities have established an evacuation shelter at Ridgway Secondary School, and pre-evacuation warnings are actively pushing outward to cover County Road 17 from Whispering Pines to Black Lake.

While the City of Ouray itself is not currently under an evacuation order, local Stage 2 fire restrictions have been implemented immediately across unincorporated Ouray County. San Miguel Power Association preemptively de-energized power lines in the fire’s path, leaving several dozen residents without power as crews battle to establish point and structure protection. A U.S. Forest Service investigator is currently en route to determine the fire’s cause. Ouray County residents needing information can contact the emergency operations hotline at 970-626-5484 or text “ourayalerts” to 65513.