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Evacuations ordered near Cutler Creek as rain pummels burn scar

UPDATE, 9:45 p.m. U.S. Highway 550 reopened between Ridgway and Ouray Wednesday night, authorities announced at 9:15 p.m. Emergency officials encourag...

July 29, 2026

Main, News

UPDATE: Pilot in fatal crash identified as Canadian man

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correctly indicate the change in the team overseeing the fire response. The pilot who died when his airc...

July 13, 2026

Main, News

Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run

The U.S. Forest Service this afternoon expanded the closure area in the Uncompahgre National Forest east of Ridgway, as the Gold Mountain Fire makes a...

July 2, 2026

News

Firefighters building, reinforcing lines, as high winds return today

Firefighters will focus their efforts today on building and reinforcing firelines in an effort to keep the Gold Mountain Fire from spreading south tow...

June 30, 2026

Main, News

Persistent windy, dry weather hampers firefighters

UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Firefighters battling the 7,100-acre Gold Mountain Fire on the ground and in the air are focused on preventing the blaze from cross...

June 29, 2026

Main, News

Ouray cancels Fourth of July fireworks

The city of Ouray has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks display in light of dangerous fire conditions. Brooke Warren, a spokeswoman for the city, ...

June 28, 2026

Main, News

Gold Mountain Fire grows, prompts evacuations north of Ouray

Click here to read the NEW, UPDATED STORY POSTED AT 10:20 a.m. Sunday, June 28 here. UPDATE, 11:16 p.m.: A pre-evacuation notice has been issued for C...

June 27, 2026

Main, News...

‘Pinched on every front’

Historic drought, wildfires, high feed prices strain local ranchers

By Chart Riggall

August 12, 2026

One breezy afternoon in mid-July, Mike Potter's phone started making all kinds of noise. “It goes, beep, beep, beep, beep!” shouted the Ridgway rancher, brandishing his flip phone from the pocket of h...

Main, News...

Flood work could begin within week

By Chart Riggall

August 12, 2026

Ouray County officials said Tuesday that flood mitigation work below the Gold Mountain Fire’s burn scar could begin as soon as next week, while warning that storms in the coming days could trigger fur...

News

Firefighter base moves to Gunnison

Fairgrounds empty as focus shifts to Elk Fire

By James Hanlon

August 12, 2026

The incident command post for the Gold Mountain Fire relocated to the Gunnison County Fairgrounds Saturday as Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 took over for Team 1 and combined effort...

Feature

County fair carries on

Fire doesn't stop 4-H kids from showing their animals this week

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 12, 2026

The night the Gold Mountain Fire started, the Cornell family anxiously watched the fire spreading toward their fenced livestock, the billowing smoke filling the canyon. They decided to load up their h...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

We need to stand firm to preserve alpine tundra

By Dianne Eschman

August 12, 2026

Dear Editor: The July 23 guest column by Sue Dreamweaver Spielman was excellent and brings up so many issues that we regular backcountry users experience. I have been recreating in this area since 197...

Mike

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines