Fire Update: Elk Fire
Friday, August 21, 2026 – 8:00 a.m. MDT
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2
Incident Commander Rodney Redinger
Phone (public and media inquiries): 970-299-5357
Email: 2026.elk@firenet.gov

Special Message: Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Gunnison Field Office moved to stage 1 fire restrictions. Hinsdale County remains under stage 2 fire restrictions. Fire area closures on both the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and BLM lands remain in effect. The public should stay aware of the jurisdiction they are in to ensure compliance with all applicable fire restrictions and closures. For more information about BLM fire restrictions please visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district.

Current Situation: Afternoon thunderstorms from the northwest brought minimal precipitation to the area yesterday. Storms lingered longer than previous days which moderated fire behavior and provided a smaller burn window. Overnight, the fire area experienced moderate humidity recovery.

Division A is making steady progress on the northeast side of the fire, focusing on identifying opportunities to extend the fireline from High Bridge Gulch to the North and the West. The terrain in that area is rugged, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have been useful in locating pockets of residual heat. There was no fire activity observed in Independence Gulch. Today, crews will continue removing fuels on the fireline edge and extinguishing areas of heat within the fire perimeter. Crews will also be maintaining close oversight of the fire within the Highway 149 corridor where discontinuous fuels have slowed fire progression.

On the southeast side of the fire, Division G is reinforcing existing fireline by widening the line, removing remaining vegetation, and securing any weak points to ensure it will hold under changing conditions. Today, crews will continue to go direct, extinguishing hot spots inside the fire perimeter. Crews will also be scouting opportunities to extend the fireline toward the Crystal Lake and Larson Lake Trail areas.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Forecasts indicate an afternoon high-pressure system with more widespread showers and storms progressing northward. It is unlikely that a wetting rain will fall over the fire area, and overall conditions are expected to remain warm. Storms may linger longer over the fire area tonight. Crews will operate under heightened oversight due to the potential risks associated with additional rainfall and storm activity.

Hunting Information: Hunters with questions about access in Game Management Unit (GMU) 66 can contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife Gunnison Office by calling 970-641-7060 or visiting 200 S Spruce St, Gunnison, CO 81230.

Closure Orders: Closure orders are still in effect throughout areas of the Elk Fire. For current Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests information, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts/elk-wildfire-area-closure-order-v-20. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Gunnison Field Office closures can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district.

No Fly Zone: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the Gold Mountain and Elk Fire areas is in effect. Flying drones near the fire is prohibited and can interfere with firefighting aircraft. IF YOU FLY WE CAN’T! For more information on safe drone operations, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org. For information on the TFR visit
https://tfr.faa.gov.

Size: 7,257 acres | Containment: 33% | Total Personnel: 257 | Cause: Lightning
Start Date: July 9, 2026 | Location: Point of origin 7 miles NW of Lake City, CO

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