Fire crews made steady progress over the weekend containing several wildfires burning across Colorado’s Western Slope. By Monday afternoon, five major fires—burning primarily on public land for over a week—had reached varying levels of containment.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday, especially over the southern High Country, were expected to aid in firefighting efforts. However, forecasters warned that drier air later in the week could reverse progress, bringing increased wind and lightning risk as any moisture evaporates.
Hazy skies covered much of Colorado over the weekend due to wildfire smoke. On Monday, smoke was shifting northward over Grand Junction, Orchard Mesa, Purdy Mesa, and spreading east across Grand Mesa, according to the National Weather Service.
Large portions of the West remain under severe to extreme drought conditions.
South Rim Fire
Burning inside Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the South Rim fire is now 31% contained and has scorched 4,220 acres.
Thanks to favorable weather and limited fire spread, crews were able to build a fireline along the fire’s northwest perimeter. The national park remains closed, with Hwy 347 shut down at its junction with Hwy 50. Montrose County’s Bostwick Park community is still under an evacuation notice.
Fire officials were providing updates to the public at the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo through 5 p.m. Monday.
Turner Gulch and Wright Draw Fires
Firefighters, supported by the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, are continuing to make gains. The Turner Gulch fire is 34% contained at 15,737 acres, while the Wright Draw fire has reached 51% containment at 466 acres.
Crews have been working along the Highway 141 corridor and will shift to the Divide Road area once that section is complete. However, a rugged, rocky section of Turner Gulch remains uncontained and poses challenges. A specialized hotshot crew is scouting that area.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office lifted evacuation orders for some properties along Highway 141, though others remain under mandatory and pre-evacuation notices.
Deer Creek Fire
Straddling the Utah-Colorado border, the Deer Creek fire has burned over 17,000 acres—surpassing the size of Manhattan—and is now 30% contained.
On Sunday, firefighters expanded containment lines along Upper Two Mile Road and Highway 46 near the state line. Despite the size of the fire, officials noted minimal growth on Sunday.
In a joint statement, Colorado Congressman Jeff Hurd and Utah Congressman Mike Kennedy praised emergency crews:
“We are actively monitoring the situation and remain in close contact with local and federal authorities. In times like these, the strength and resilience of our communities shine through.”
Sowbelly Fire
The Sowbelly fire is now 66% contained, thanks in part to favorable weekend weather. BLM Colorado officials said crews are strengthening containment lines, particularly on the eastern flank.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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