Overview
- The wildfire that began June 27 northeast of Ouray has expanded to about 31,420 acres with containment reported at 2% in the July 7 incident update.
- Incident managers have shifted to indirect tactics, using dozers, strategic firing operations between Baldy Peak and County Road 12, and a spike camp to position crews closer to priority areas.
- Evacuation orders were expanded into parts of Gunnison County including the Bear Claw, Silver Jack, Eagle's Rest, and Little Bighorn subdivisions, and an evacuation shelter is open at Ridgway Secondary School.
- Forecasts call for gusty winds and a roughly 30% chance of afternoon thunderstorms that could bring dry lightning, and a Temporary Flight Restriction remains in place to protect aerial firefighting operations.
- Most burning is in Uncompahgre Wilderness stands that have not burned in more than 50 years, increasing severity and raising post-fire risks to trails, watersheds, local tourism and Highway 550.