DENVER, COLORADO — Firefighters across Colorado are battling six uncontained wildfires this Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Together the blazes have scorched nearly 36,000 acres, forced fresh evacuations on the Western Slope and prompted a gubernatorial disaster declaration.
Below is the latest status for every active fire in the state.
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- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
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Turner Gulch Fire (Mesa County)
13,984 acres | 0% containment
Location: 8 mi. NE of Gateway, burning both sides of Unaweep Canyon
Threats/closures: Colorado 141 remains closed between mile markers 120–134; evacuations continue for Gateway-area residents.
Operations chiefs warn of “extremely dry” pinyon-juniper fuels and steep terrain that make direct attack nearly impossible.
Deer Creek Fire (Montezuma & Montrose Counties)
14,764 acres | 7% containment
Location: Crossed from Utah into Colorado on July 14; now moving northeast toward Paradox Valley
Impacts: 13 structures damaged; 400+ personnel on scene using helicopters, fixed-wing tankers and dozers. Winds gusting to 60 mph could push flames deeper into Colorado today.
South Rim Fire (Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Montrose County)
4,160 acres | 0% containment
- Key notes: Firefighters are prioritizing protection of the historic South Rim visitor center while using Blue Mesa Reservoir for aerial water scoops. Gov. Jared Polis included the South Rim blaze in last weekend’s multi-county disaster declaration.
Sowbelly Fire (Delta/Mesa Counties)
2,274 acres | 13% containment
- Terrain: Remote canyons inside the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area; smokejumpers and helicopter bucket drops remain the only viable tactics in much of the interior.
Wright Draw Fire (Mesa County)
448 acres | 0% containment
- Context: Shares incident command with Turner Gulch; steep slopes and thick brush hamper line construction. Residents along CO 141 remain on edge as shifting winds could merge hotspots.
Why today’s forecast matters
A developing cold front is expected to bring 20-25 mph surface winds this afternoon—the very conditions that allowed the Turner Gulch fire to grow by 7,000 acres in a single run Monday. Fire-weather watches span much of western Colorado, and air-quality alerts remain in effect for the entire Western Slope.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Big-picture outlook
All six fires ignited during a July 10 lightning burst and are now burning in areas classified as “extreme drought.” These conditions dry live vegetation to the point where even moderate winds can push flames rapidly across canyons and mesas—challenging an already thinly stretched wildfire workforce.
Staying safe & informed
Sign up for local emergency alerts in your county (links at dhsem.colorado.gov).
Check real-time air-quality maps before recreating outdoors (fire.airnow.gov).
Observe Stage 1 fire restrictions now in place across western Colorado; even a camp stove ember can start the next blaze.
If you live in—or plan to visit—the Western Slope this week, keep your go-bag ready, know multiple evacuation routes, and follow updates from the Mesa, Delta and Montrose sheriff’s offices. Sharing verified information—rather than rumors—helps firefighters focus on the front lines.
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