Colorado Wildfires: Crews Begin Gaining Control on Western Slope Blazes

DENVER (KDVR) — Firefighters battling multiple wildfires across Colorado’s Western Slope are starting to make progress, according to the latest updates from InciWeb.

Four major fires sparked by lightning on July 10, along with a Utah wildfire that crossed into Colorado, have scorched thousands of acres. Another fire continues to burn on the Southern Ute Reservation. Most of these fires now show signs of containment, thanks to the efforts of over a thousand personnel on the scene.

Here’s how each fire stands:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim Fire

Acres burned: 4,252
Containment: 21%
The blaze shut down Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and canceled camping for the rest of 2025. Firefighters have made headway on the west and southern edges, but hot spots remain inside the canyon on the east side.

Turner Gulch and Wright Draw Fires (Mesa County)

Turner Gulch Fire
- Acres burned: 15,737
- Containment: 34%
- This is the largest fire currently burning solely in Colorado. Rain on Friday helped firefighters slow its spread.
Wright Draw Fire
- Acres burned: 466
- Containment: 0%
- Helicopters are dropping water as crews work to plan a containment strategy.

Sowbelly Fire (Escalante Canyon)

Acres burned: 2,274
Containment: 66%
Firefighters have made the most progress here, securing more of the fire’s perimeter on Saturday.

Deer Creek Fire (Utah/Colorado)

Acres burned: 16,340
Containment: 22%
Calmer weather helped crews advance containment over the weekend.

Ute 63 Fire (Southern Ute Indian Tribe Land)

Acres burned: 550 (as of Friday)
Containment: 3%
No new updates have been provided since Friday.

With favorable weather and hundreds of firefighters on the ground, containment efforts are improving across the region, though challenges remain—especially in hard-to-reach areas like the Black Canyon.

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