The emergency response to the Gold Mountain Fire has been sudden and information is changing from day to day. Here are some answers to questions we have received from readers you might find helpful. Please be aware this information can change, and we try our best to keep up but in an emergency, the situation is evolving.
Is the fire burning in Ouray?
No. The fire, which started about two miles outside the city, continues to push northeast of the city. The city is not currently under any evacuation orders. At times, the air is clear in Ouray and normal activities have resumed, though some businesses have limited hours due to their employees needing to evacuate their homes.
How do I get more information about the fire?
A dedicated Facebook page has been established for the Gold Mountain Fire. Not on Facebook? InciWeb has updates, too, which pretty much has all the same information.
A hotline has been established at 970-355-3286 (please note this is a new number as of Thursday July 2, as the old number was not working). Phones are being answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Callers will get a recorded message outside of those hours.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up to receive emergency alerts. Text “ourayalerts” to 65513.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3, which assumed control of the fire operations on Monday, is also giving daily briefings with fire information. Those briefings are recorded and you can find them on YouTube by searching for the “Gold Mountain Fire” official channel. You can also watch a recording of the public meeting that was held Tuesday night.
How do I know if my home is in an evacuation area?
First – sign up for those alerts. But you can also use an online tool that fire managers created this week. You can type an address into this tool to check and see if you’re in an evacuation area.
Is U.S. Highway 550 open?
As of Wednesday afternoon, the highway reopened between Uncompahgre Street and the Whispering Pines bridge, just north of Ouray. But then it closed again on Thursday afternoon, due to traffic congestion and safety concerns. It’s best just to check the Colorado Department of Transportation’s cotrip.org and sign up for the county’s emergency alerts, as it has been difficult to keep up with the changing situation.
Is there an evacuation shelter?
Yes, it’s at the Ridgway Secondary School, 1200 Green St. The American Red Cross is operating that shelter. It briefly closed but then it reopened again.
What if I have livestock? There is livestock shelter available in Montrose, because the Ouray County Fairgrounds is now being occupied by the fire response operations. Call the hotline at 970-626-5484 to register prior to arrival.
The shelter is at the Montrose County Fairgrounds, 1036 North Seventh St., and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before bringing animals to the shelter, please note the following:
• Water your animals before transport.
• Bring feed, if you’re able to.
• All animals will be inspected by a veterinarian upon arrival.
• Owners are responsible for feeding, watering, exercising and maintaining their animals while they are sheltered.
I have donations or something to offer that could help. What can I do?
Ouray County officials are asking anyone who would like to make a donation or volunteer to help in some capacity to fill out an online form.
Officials are asking people not to show up in person at the incident command post at the Ouray County 4-H Center and Fairgrounds. There is a significant amount of activity happening there, and public access isn’t allowed.
Is there a way to make a charitable donation?
Yes. The Telluride Foundation has set up the Ouray County Fire Fund to assist with wildfire response and recovery efforts. To learn more, click here: “Ouray County Fire Fund.”
The Ouray Volunteer Fire Department is also accepting donations here.
Should I be concerned about air quality?
Anyone with compromised health is advised to stay indoors at this time and avoid breathing in the smoky air, which is coming from not only the Gold Mountain Fire but also other fires in Western Colorado and Utah. You can check the air quality levels at airnow.gov. The conditions are changing as the wind shifts.
There are free N95 masks available at three locations: the Ouray EMS Barn at 320 Sixth Ave. in Ouray, the Ridgway EMS Barn at 251 North Railroad St. in Ridgway and the Ouray County Public Health office at 177 Sherman St., Unit 103 in Ridgway.
