As the Gold Mountain Fire pushed toward Lake Lenore, officials issued mandatory evacuation orders along County Road 14, pre-evacuation notices farther north along U.S. Highway 550, and began cutting power to support firefighting. A federal critical incident ma
At 10:18 p.m., the evacuation center in Ridgway was still switching names on the same address—moving people away from one shelter site and toward another as the Gold Mountain Fire kept changing the map.
The guidance was blunt: if you were in the path of the blaze. you had to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. A pre-evacuation notice was issued for County Road 17 from Whispering Pines to Black Lake. telling residents to collect medications. important documents and other necessary items and to be prepared to leave instantly. Officials also urged anyone who hadn’t signed up for emergency alerts to text “ourayalerts” to 65513.
Earlier, the evacuation center itself had already shifted. For people who needed temporary shelter. authorities moved the evacuation center from the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds to Ridgway Secondary School. 1200 Green St. By then, roughly 40 people had checked in so far, according to Ouray County spokeswoman Jennifer Peterson. It wasn’t clear how many people had been evacuated from their homes. because some may have stayed with friends or family instead of using the shelter.
Power became part of the firefighting plan. At 9:47 p.m., the city of Ouray said power would be shut off to the Waterview and Chautauqua neighborhoods at the north end of town to support firefighting operations and protect public safety.
On the roads, the rules tightened fast. U.S. Highway 550 was closed between the city of Ouray and the Whispering Pines subdivision north of town. according to the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office. Traffic was detoured over the Whispering Pines bridge via County Road 17 and Seventh Avenue in town. and authorities asked motorists to use extreme caution because both northbound and southbound traffic would be using this route.
The fire’s reach kept extending north along U.S. Highway 550 as well. At 8:22 p.m. authorities issued a pre-evacuation notice for Peck’s Trailer Park and the Red Stone Road area—farther north of the Gold Mountain Fire along U.S. Highway 550—saying an evacuation order may be coming due to hazardous conditions. They set up a hotline that would be available as soon as possible, with the number 970-626-5484.
Less than 40 minutes later, the posture changed from preparation to immediate departure. A mandatory evacuation order took effect for Peck’s Trailer Park and the Red Stone Road area, with authorities saying anyone in that area is at risk and should leave immediately.
North of town, the most sweeping order came along County Road 14. Authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order this evening for all areas along County Road 14 north of Ouray due to a growing wildfire. The evacuation area includes Panoramic Heights, Lake Lenore, County Road 14A and all other areas along County Road 14. Ouray County Emergency Management’s Facebook post warned that if residents ignored the order. emergency services would not be available and there is a “good chance you could not be rescued.” Volunteers would not be allowed to enter the area to provide assistance.
Earlier in the night, the scale of the threat was already visible in the way the incident unfolded. At about 8 p.m. Ouray County Emergency Manager Glenn Boyd told the Plaindealer that the fire was around 50 acres in size and spreading. and that officials were seeing gusts of wind that were “not steady. ” but still strong enough to matter.
He wasn’t the only one describing the conditions. The fire broke out during a day of high winds and dry conditions in Ouray County. which had been under a red flag warning all day. The initial spark was tied to infrastructure and weather: authorities said the fire ignited when a tree fell on a power line.
Fire response began in a narrow window. The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations around 6:45 p.m. Saturday—less than two hours after Ridgway and Ouray firefighters began responding to the Gold Mountain Fire. which broke out below the Gold Mountain Ranch and near the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour area off County Road 14. Authorities also said they planned to pull water from Lake Lenore to fight the blaze. and that at least three federal wildland fire engines responded. Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry requested aerial support from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
As the night deepened, aviation plans collided with the same winds that helped set the fire in motion. At 10:50 p.m. Ouray County Manager Antonio Mendez said a federal critical incident management team would take over firefighting operations on Sunday. He said the Gold Mountain Fire was starting to calm down in some areas. but was advancing toward the Lake Lenore area. which has been evacuated. Mendez also said at least one resident refused to leave the area.
Authorities had hoped to send up aircraft earlier, but persistent high winds grounded them. Officials ordered a fixed-wing aircraft and two helicopters that were expected to arrive tomorrow, though high winds are forecast again.
Even pets were pulled into the evacuation timetable. Second Chance Humane Society Executive Director Nick Gilman said the humane society stood by to assist evacuees at the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds. He advised people who had evacuated animals to keep them with them. but said the organization could help with crates or food. As a last option for animals separated from owners. Gilman said Second Chance can accept dogs and cats at its shelter on County Road 10 north of Ridgway.
Power and prevention efforts continued to run alongside evacuation orders. San Miguel Power Association officials said they were de-energizing power lines in the area to maintain safety and try to prevent the spread of the fire.
Out on the edge of the calendar, not everyone was focused on the immediate danger. The fire’s start came as some residents called for the city of Ouray to cancel its annual Fourth of July fireworks display.
By 10:18 p.m., the practical instructions kept coming: take medications, take documents, be ready to leave—because in the Gold Mountain Fire zone, decisions don’t wait for the next update.
And while lights were cut and roads were closed, the message in town was the same: sign up for emergency alerts by texting “ourayalerts” to 65513, because the next order could arrive quickly.
Gold Mountain Fire Ouray County Lake Lenore evacuation County Road 14 U.S. Highway 550 closure pre-evacuation notice mandatory evacuation Ridgway Secondary School emergency alerts ourayalerts
So they’re moving people around again?? Great.
Ridgway got switched to a different shelter and they’re still calling it the same address? That sounds confusing as hell. I hope nobody was turned away.
Wait “cutting power to support firefighting” like… are they cutting power to the whole area? Or just certain streets? Also the text thing ‘ourayalerts’ to 65513—why is it always some random code like that, not everyone will know.
Fires always “expand” right before people get off work. County Road 14, then 17, then Highway 550… it’s like a moving target. If the evacuation center is changing names, doesn’t that mean the plan is already failing? I’m not saying it’s fake, just seems like someone messed up the map earlier.