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Gold Mountain Fire Grows to 35,601 Acres as Crews Protect Highway 550, Silver Jack Lake and Nearby Homes
Description: The Gold Mountain Fire reached 35,601 acres and remains 5% contained as more than 1,000 personnel strengthen firelines and protect communities near Ouray...
Gold Mountain Fire Update – July 12, 2026
Size: 35,601 acres | Containment: 5% | Cause: Undetermined | Start Date: June 27, 2026 @ 5:33p.m.
Location: Approx. 2 miles NE of Ouray, CO | Total Personnel: 1006
Weather conditions on the fire will continue to be hot and dry, with near record-breaking temperatures in the 80s at higher elevations. Humidity will remain low today before slowly increasing with the potential for monsoonal moisture midweek. Light winds from the northwest return after the south-southeast winds seen overnight, and gusts are expected to be around 20 mph.
The fire remained active yesterday as receptive fuels within the perimeter held heat and the northeastern flank of the fire burned through remaining fuels in pockets along the Cimarron Ridge and in the Nate Creek drainage.
Firefighters are continuing to secure the edge along Highway 550 and are ensuring that firelines along County Road 12 hold against reburn potential. The potential for reburn is higher in the oak brush fuel type as the shrubs shed leaf litter that burned during the initial burn has dried out the canope which could reignite with the right heat and wind conditions.
Masticators on the west side are working to improve line along the primary dozer line running parallel to the Cimarron Ridge. Check lines were added from the dozer line towards the fire. Check lines are utilized by firefighters to create a speed bump for active fire, by firing off these lines, firefighters can slow down the rate of spread while work to complete the primary line continues.
Along the northeastern edge, fireline continues to be built using heavy equipment while the structure protection group continues to create defensible space around residences. Crews began a firing operation late in the day yesterday, with night operations picking up where day shift left off. The goal of the firing is to build depth between the fire front and spot fires, and the Middle Fork of the Cimarron and Silver Jack Lake.
A helitack crew is working along the southern end of the fire, to prevent fire spread towards Ouray with the changing wind direction.
Evacuations and Closures: For information on evacuations and road closures contact the Ouray County Evacuation Hotline at 970-626-5484 or go to https://ouraycountyco.gov/552/Maps-and-Closures. For Gunnison County call 970-641-7660. For Montrose County call 970-252-4545.
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests issued a Gold Mountain Wildfire Area Closure Order. Learn more at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts. The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office also issued a partial closure order due to the Gold Mountain Fire. Learn more at https://www.blm.gov/office/uncompahgre-field-office.
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