Gold Mountain Fire Update – 08/27/2026

Gold Mountain Fire Update – August 27, 2026
Crawford Incident Management Team Type 3
Incident Commanders Colby Crawford and Theo Engel (trainee)
Phone (public and media inquiries): 970-355-3286
Email: 2026.goldmountain@firenet.gov
Size: 39,721 acres | Containment: 87% | Cause: Undetermined | Start Date: June 27, 2026 @ 5:33 p.m.
Location: Approx. 2 miles NE of Ouray, CO | Total Personnel: 86

Current Situation: Fire managers are using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), mainly along the west side of the Middle Fork, to locate remaining heat and identify areas where firefighters can safely engage. Crews are continuing to build direct fireline south along the drainage, with the goal of tying into a dispersed camping area by the end of the week, as terrain and conditions allow.

Firefighters continue patrolling other portions of the fire, checking containment lines and watching for any heat or fire activity that could threaten to spread outside of the existing perimeter. As fuels continue to dry throughout the week, heat lingering in heavy dead and down fuels and unburned interior pockets may produce visible smoke.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Daily thunderstorms are expected to continue for the next several days, gradually decreasing in coverage through Friday. Cloud cover associated with afternoon storms will moderate fire weather conditions. Winds will generally remain light and terrain-driven, but any thunderstorms may produce gusty, erratic outflow winds.

Closures: The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reduced or lifted fire-related closures associated with the Gold Mountain and Elk fires. Residents and visitors should review current closure maps before traveling, as some locations adjacent to reopened areas may still be closed. 
Forest Service
BLM

Hunting Information: Much of the fire-affected area within Game Management Unit 65 remains closed. Hunters should review current land closures and confirm access before heading into the field. For questions about hunting access, licenses, refunds, or other hunting-specific concerns in Game Management Units 65 and 66, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Gunnison at 970-641-7060.

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, potentially grounding aerial suppression operations. For more information on safe drone operations, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org. For information on the TFR, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.