Gold Mountain Fire grows, triggers more evacuations near Trinidad
Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire reached US 160 in Las Animas County as the blaze climbed to 37,734 acres and 11% containment.
The Gold Mountain Fire had grown to 37,734 acres and 11% containment by July 16, and smoke was affecting visibility near US 160 and rural routes in Las Animas County.
The fire started June 27 at 5:33 p.m. and was undetermined in the July 9 update, when it had burned 32,131 acres, was 8% contained and had 984 personnel assigned about 2 miles northeast of Ouray. By July 10, it had climbed to 34,848 acres with 6% containment, and by July 12 it had reached 35,601 acres and 5% containment. It later stood at 37,809.7 acres and 13% containment.
The blaze remained active mainly in the Middle and West Forks of the Cimarron and south to Turret Ridge. Northwest winds kept pushing the fire into already-burned areas, while spotting, trees torching and renewed activity continued near Nate Creek and the east side of the West Fork of Cimarron Creek. The fire had burned through more than a half-century of fuel buildup.
Evacuations and shelter operations continued under county and federal coordination. Gunnison County Emergency Management issued a pre-evacuation notice July 2 and mandatory evacuation orders southeast of Montrose on July 6, after earlier notices for Peck’s Trailer Park, the Red Stone area and Whispering Pines. By July 8, some evacuees were allowed to return home.
Ouray County Emergency Management and the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2, led by Incident Commander Rodney Redinger, kept the Gold Mountain Fire information line active. Hotline hours ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, the hotline was 970-355-3286, and the Red Cross shelter was open at 1200 Green St. in Ridgway. Smoke advisories for the Gold Mountain and Elk fires were expanded July 15, and a temporary flight restriction widened.
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