Latest news with #MontroseCounty
CBS News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
U.S. Highway 50 closed in western Colorado as new wildfire sparks
State fire officials said on Sunday that U.S. Highway 50 is closed in western Colorado after a new wildfire sparked in Montrose County. Fire officials are calling this new fire the Kinikin Fire and it has closed U.S. 50 at Mile Marker 102, about 8 miles east of the center of the city of Montrose. An Aircraft has been ordered to help combat the fire, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said, and resources that were being used to fight the nearby South Rim Fire are being sent to help with the Kinikin Fire. Highway 92 is serving as a detour and there was no immediate word on when U.S. 50 would reopen, the Gunnison Regional 911 Center said on social media. Information about acreage and information wasn't immediately available, but a photo from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control showed a large plume of smoke adjacent to the highway with a line of cars in the road. Southwestern Colorado is still experiencing the impacts of several large wildfires, despite recent gains in containment efforts.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
South Rim Fire to become more active due to afternoon gusty winds
MONTROSE COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) – Officials believe more fire activity is in store Tuesday afternoon at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison as winds are expected to be up to 15 miles per hour. Despite this, crews are attempting to battle the blaze that started on July 10. The lightning-caused wildfire was mapped around 4,000 acres with zero containment. According to the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, two scooper airplanes have continuously dropped water over the northwest side of the fire for over five hours on Monday. Due to this, firefighters made progress on building a fireline in the area. Additionally, airtankers dropped retardant to help with suppression efforts on the ground. Looking ahead, firefighters plan to scout and assess the area on the eastern side in an attempt to hold the blaze from spreading. Air support will monitor the fire and drop water when needed, according to the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. Evacuations have been put in place in the Bostwick Park area and for residences on M73, N73, N74 and O74 roads. Crews continue to protect structures in the Bostwick community, according to the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. A public meeting regarding the wildfire is scheduled at 6 p.m., Tuesday, at Grace Community Church, 16731 Woodgate Road in Montrose. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Deer Creek Fire over 14,000 acres, has damaged 13 structures; expected to move northeast through Colorado
A large wildfire that sparked in southeastern Utah last week and crossed into southwestern Colorado this week has damaged over a dozen structures, and now fire officials believe winds will push that fire deeper into Colorado on Wednesday. The Deer Creek Fire was mapped at 14,760 acres and is still 7% contained, Utah Fire Info, a task force comprising state and federal agencies, said Wednesday morning. That means it's grown by over 1,000 acres overnight, while containment had not grown since Tuesday morning. "Last night, strong winds caused an increase in fire activity that pushed the fire further into Colorado. No additional evacuations have occurred, and firefighters will have a presence in Paradox assessing the fire's location and taking suppression actions," Utah Fire Info wrote on Facebook Wednesday morning. "Today, afternoon thunderstorms are again expected out of the west/southwest, with wind gusts up to 60mph possible. Fire crews continue to assess the western edge of the fire and work to cool any hot spots as the fire moves northeast." The buildings damaged by the fire include 11 private structures, a USDA Forest Service structure, and a communications site, according to Utah Fire Info. The Deer Creek Fire is the largest of several wildfires in southwestern Colorado that have thrown huge clouds of smoke into the air and prompted a disaster declaration from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, air quality alerts, and evacuations in and around Montrose County. Over 400 people are now involved in the effort to extinguish the fire, and crews are using helicopters, fixed-wing airtankers, dozers, and other ground equipment. Further north, the Wright Draw Fire, at 448 acres, and the nearby Turner Gulch Fire, at almost 14,000 acres, north of Gateway, Colorado, are also largely uncontained. To the east, the Sowbelly Fire is at 2,274 acres, but crews have seen gains in containment efforts, which are at 13% as of Wednesday morning. And the South Rim Fire, near the southern end of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, is at 4,160 acres. No containment figures for that fire were immediately available.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
South Rim Fire grows another 100 acres as more personnel come on board
MONTROSE COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) – The South Rim Fire grew another 100 acres as firefighters attempt contain the blaze that evacuated the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and nearby neighborhoods last week. As of Monday morning, the lightning-caused South Rim Fire was mapped at 3,633 acres with zero containment. Over 300 personnel are working on the blaze. Management of the South Rim Fire was transferred on Monday from the San Juan Type 3 Team 8 over to the Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 (RM CIMT 3). Two aircraft, five crews, eight engines, two dozers and four water tenders are being used to fight the blaze. According to RM CIMT 3, fire activity was moderate for most of the day Sunday. Crews used the time to work on the handline on the north side of the blaze. The firefighters also set up hose lays along the northwest while helicopters dropped water to help reduce the wildfire from spreading, RM CIMT 3 stated. Crews also worked on handlines along 347 Road below the area burned in the Warner Fire in 1996, as the blaze was burning back into itself along the east side. In the evening, a thunderstorm with gusty winds passed over the fire, making it 'extremely active and unpredictable,' according to RM CIMT 3. Heavy smoke also limited visibility, which caused issues with how to safely engage in suppression efforts. Going forward, two water scooper aircraft have been ordered and are expected to arrive later Monday. Crews also developed a structure protection plan for the Bostwick Park community and implemented it on Monday. Firefighters will monitor the fire on the northeast side as it's mostly burning back into itself, RM CIMT 3 stated. On the southeast end, crews and dozer operators will work on keeping the fire from affecting the transmission lines on the East Portal Road, which provides power to Crystal Dam. Although the forecast shows a chance for showers, it is possible to see a repeat of increased fire activity, according to RM CIMT 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How officials plan to tackle the South Rim Fire
MONTROSE COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) — On Friday, multiple fire officials and agencies released updates and plans to address the South Rim Fire, which is one of two lightning-caused fires in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park that started on Thursday. As of 3:26 p.m. on Friday, the fire has not been contained and has grown to 1,640 acres. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has been evacuated and closed. Additionally, Highway 347 is closed at the junction of Highway 50. There are no evacuations currently in place in Montrose County outside of the national park; however, pre-evacuations have been issued to residents nearby. Officials report that smoke may be visible in the area, which can settle into valleys and other low-lying areas at night and in the early morning hours. Residents are advised to avoid as much smoke exposure as possible since prolonged exposure may cause health issues. On Thursday, officials successfully evacuated the national park and started operations to protect structures by using retardant in vegetation clearing around park structures and homes. A firing operation late Wednesday evening was conducted to protect the Black Canyon visitor center from damage. Some park equipment and outbuildings in the area have been reported to have suffered damage. Meanwhile, aviation resources had provided retardant, mapping and aerial supervision to officials and ground crews. On Friday at 6 a.m., officials part of a Type 3 Incident Management Team had taken over the incident, in which the team had worked with the park and local cooperators to develop firefighting strategies. Fighterfighters will focus on protecting structures by using engines, water tenders and aircraft if needed. Airtankers and other aviation assets will supply retardant, water buckets and assist with mapping and aerial supervision. Overall, the incident will focus on the following objectives: Providing safety for firefighters and the public by using a risk-based approach to decision making. Protecting critical values, including residences, power infrastructures, cultural sites, the Black Canyon Visitor Center and the administration building. Limiting fire spread towards critical values by combining the use of heavy equipment, aviation, crews and engines. For more information about the South Rim Fire, residents can email or call 970-240-1070. WesternSlopeNow will update this story as it develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
