Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
August 4, 2025, 8:15 a.m. – Issued for eastern Rio Blanco, eastern Garfield, Eagle, and Routt counties by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Affected area: eastern Rio Blanco, eastern Garfield, Eagle, and Routt counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Meeker, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, El Jebel, Basalt, Eagle, Vail, and Steamboat Springs.
Advisory in effect: 9 a.m. MDT, Monday, August 4, 2025 to 9 a.m. MDT, Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Public health recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Outlook: Smoke from several fires in Rio Blanco and Garfield counties will produce areas of moderate to heavy smoke on Monday and Tuesday. The greatest impacts are expected in areas in the immediate vicinity of these fires, particularly in sheltered areas and low lying terrain. Additional smoke impacts may be experienced across the advisory area due to transport of smoke on Monday and Tuesday.
July 18, 2025, 5:22 p.m. – If you live east of mile marker 4 on County Road 309, please use the Rulison exit to access your home. If you live west of mile marker 1.9 on County Road 309, please use the Parachute exit to access your home.
July 18, 2025, 4:41 p.m. – Fire crews made good progress today. As of 5 p.m., County Road 309 will move to pre-evacuation status. The road will remain closed to the public but open to residents. The fire has held steady at approximately 310 acres throughout the day.
July 18, 2025, 9:56 a.m. – All evacuations remain in place at this time. Please do not call Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority (dispatch) for updates — their lines are overwhelmed, and it’s critical we keep them clear for emergencies.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
July 18, 2025, 5:05 p.m. – Evacuated County road 309 residents: Evacuation has been lifted and you may return home. Be prepared to evacuate again if needed due to fire activity. Addresses greater than 4000, access your home via Rulison. Addresses lower than 1900, access your home via Battlement mesa.
July 17, 2025, 10:20 p.m. – Road open – Hwy 6 is open between mile-markers 77 and 83 both directions, Parachute to Rulison.
July 17, 2025, 4:38 p.m. – EVACUATION: County road 309 (Rulison-Parachute Road) to main Rulison exit, mile marker 81: Due to the fire, evacuate the area immediately.
17 de julio de 2025, 4:38 p.m. – EVACUACIĂ“N: Carretera del condado 309 (Rulison-Parachute Road) hasta la salida principal de Rulison, marcador de milla 81: Debido al incendio, evacue el área de inmediato.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
July 17, 2025, 4:38 p.m. – EVACUATION: County road 309 (Rulison-Parachute Road) to main Rulison exit, mile marker 81: Due to the fire, evacuate the area immediately.
17 de julio de 2025, 4:38 p.m. – EVACUACIĂ“N: Carretera del condado 309 (Rulison-Parachute Road) hasta la salida principal de Rulison, marcador de milla 81: Debido al incendio, evacue el área de inmediato.
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office
July 17, 2025, 4:38 p.m. – Brush fire is burning on County Road 309, just south of I-70 near mile marker 79 (between Parachute and Rulison). Evacuations: Residents within a one-mile radius of 1800 County Road 309 are under evacuation orders. Road closures: Highway 6 is closed in both directions between mile markers 77 and 83 (Parachute to Rulison).
17 de julio de 2025, 16:38 – Un incendio forestal arde en la carretera del condado 309, justo al sur de la I-70, cerca del kilĂłmetro 79 (entre Parachute y Rulison). Evacuaciones: Se ordena la evacuaciĂłn a los residentes en un radio de una milla alrededor del kilĂłmetro 1800 de la carretera del condado 309. Cierres de carreteras: La autopista 6 está cerrada en ambas direcciones entre los kilĂłmetros 77 y 83 (de Parachute a Rulison).
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
July 17, 2025, 4:25 p.m. – Highway 6 is closed between mile markets 77 and 83, both directions, Parachute to Rulison, due to a fire.
17 de julio de 2025, 16:25 – La autopista 6 está cerrada entre los mercados de millas 77 y 83, en ambas direcciones, de Parachute a Rulison, debido a un incendio.
July 17, 2025, 3:11 p.m. – Residences in one mile of 1800 County Road 309 (Rulison-Parachute Rd): Due to a fire, evacuate the area immediately.
17 de julio de 2025, 3:11 p. m. – Residencias en una milla de 1800 County Road 309 (Rulison-Parachute Rd): Debido a un incendio, evacue el área de inmediato.
Grand Valley Fire Protection District
July 17, 2025, 3:04 p.m. – New vegetation fire: Cottonwood Fire. Evacuations have been requested for a 1 mile radius around the fire, per unit on scene. Pre-Evacuations have been requested for a 2-mile radius around the fire.
17 de julio de 2025, 15:04 – Nuevo incendio de vegetaciĂłn: Incendio Cottonwood. Se solicitan evacuaciones en un radio de 1 milla alrededor del incendio, por unidad en el lugar. Se solicitan preevacuaciones en un radio de 2 millas alrededor del incendio.
Parachute Police Department
July 17, 2025, 4:24 p.m. – ATTENTION: Cottonwood Park Rodeo Grounds, 100 La Plata Cir, Parachute, is open for your evacuated livestock.
17 de julio de 2025, 4:24 p.m. – ATENCIĂ“N: Cottonwood Park Rodeo Grounds, 100 La Plata Cir, Parachute, está abierto para su ganado evacuado.
Recent hot and windy conditions across Colorado have dried out the lower elevation landscape, and much of the Western Slope is under severe to extreme drought.
“The conditions across our region are significantly drier and more volatile than normal for mid-July,” said Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Officer Tommy Hayes. “Prolonged heat, low humidity, and steady winds have rapidly dried out vegetation — especially native grasses, sagebrush and pinyon-juniper shrubs.”
Because of current conditions, a current National Wildland Fire Preparedness Level of 4, and several active fires in the region, officials decided to increase fire restrictions where most appropriate.
In addition to stage 1 restrictions, the following are prohibited on BLM-managed lands:
Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal grill, coal, wood stove fires, including in developed camping and picnic grounds. Devices using pressurized liquid or gas are exempted.
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, building or tent.
Using an explosive requiring fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
Operating a generator, chainsaw or any equipment powered by an internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either:
Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame.
Additionally, people should avoid parking in tall, dry grass; use working spark arresters on off-highway vehicles; and inspect trailers regularly to ensure chains do not drag.
BLM initiates restrictions to reduce the risk of wildfires and protect the public. Fire restrictions are implemented based on specific criteria, including the moisture content of vegetation, weather outlooks, and human risk factors.
For more information, please contact the Grand Junction Field Office at 970-244-3000 or the Colorado River Valley Field Office at 970-876-9000.
July 16, 2025, 12 p.m. – The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, BLM lands in Garfield County, and the seven fire districts in Garfield County are implementing Stage 2 Fire Restrictions effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday July 17, 2025. This applies to all of Garfield County.
This decision was made with thoughtful consideration. We look at the data as well as the potential for significant wildfires and balance it with the impacts to our community. The current active wildfires in Colorado have already stretched our available resources and effected our ability to respond as necessary.
Fire restrictions are implemented based on specific criteria to including moisture content of vegetation, weather outlooks, human risk factors and firefighting resource availability.
What Stage 2 fire restrictions mean in Garfield County
A) Use of fireworks – Not permitted
B) Burn permits (general) – No burn permits will be issued. All previously issued burn permits are cancelled.
C) Recreational fires – No recreational fires
D) Cooking fires – Use caution and keep attended. Cooking devices must be clean (including gas cylinder) and in proper working order.
a. Gas grills – No permit required.
b. Charcoal and other solid fuel grills and cookers – No permit required in developed areas only.
c. In undeveloped areas, a permit from the local fire department may be required.
E) Smoking – Open smoking allowed in developed areas.
a. In undeveloped areas, allowed only in an enclosed vehicle or building.
F) Welding and spark-emitting cutting (hot work) – Developed area: Use extreme caution and take preventative measures as necessary.
a. Undeveloped area:Industrial use only. A permit from the local fire department may be required. Must be in a cleared area at least 10 feet in diameter with a designated lookout. Must have Class A fire extinguishing capabilities readily available.
G) Operating of internal combustion engine-powered equipment, such as chainsaws, hand-held tools, or generators without a spark-arresting device is prohibited. If described equipment does have a spark arresting device, you must have Class A fire extinguishing capabilities readily available, and round-point shovel (36? length minimum) shall be readily available for use.
H) Other internal combustion engine-powered equipment, such as tractors and mowers: Operate with extreme caution paying special attention in areas subject to extreme conditions that may be susceptible to ignition (dry weeds and grasses, etc.).
I) Use of explosives, explosive targets and steel or tracer bullets – Not permitted
J) Use of firearms – Steel jacket/core bullets (Armor Piercing) and tracer bullets are expressly prohibited. It is the responsibility of each independent range to ensure safe fire conditions at all times the range is in use. This includes: mitigating fuels that may potentially catch fire; monitoring downrange conditions/impacts; maintaining the ability to access and rapidly extinguish fires; notifying the local fire department immediately in the event of a fire of any size. Keeping a usable fire-extinguishing application method on hand is strongly recommended.
a. If shooting at an unattended range – including those on public and private property – the responsibility for ensuring safe fire conditions falls on the independent shooter.
By definition:
A “developed area” is an area, whether within city limits or rural, that is groomed, manicured and or watered, where grasses, brush and trees are regularly attended to by landowner. This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.
“Undeveloped areas” are lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered; where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured parklands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined by the authority having jurisdiction or designee to be an undue wildland fire hazard.
Colorado Air Pollution Control Division – Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
July 16, 2025, 8 a.m. – An air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke issued for Mesa, Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Lake, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, San Miguel and Ouray counties.
Affected area: Mesa, Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Lake, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, San Miguel and Ouray Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Vail, Aspen, Leadville, Delta, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Montrose, Nucla, Telluride, and Ouray.
Advisory in effect: 8 a.m. MDT, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 to 9 a.m. MDT, Thursday, July 17, 2025
Public health recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Outlook: Multiple wildfires will produce periods of moderate to heavy smoke across the advisory area through early Thursday morning. The heaviest smoke impacts will likely be in close proximity to the South Rim fire in eastern Montrose County, the Sowbelly Fire and Turner Gulch fires in southern Mesa County, and areas directly downwind of the Deer Creek fire in Montrose and San Miguel Counties. Thunderstorms are possible near the fires on Wednesday, and may produce gusty, erratic winds that can send smoke in any direction.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
This incident has been named the Hilltop Fire.
June 26, 2025, 3:35 p.m. – PRE-EVACUATION: Residents over one mile, but within two miles of county road 320/county road 309: Due to a Fire, please prepare for possible evacuation orders issued by Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. You will receive another message if evacuations are ordered.
June 26, 2025, 3:26 p.m. – EVACUATION: If you are EAST of the fire, EVACUATE to the FAIRGROUNDS in Rifle, if you are WEST of the fire EVACUATE to COTTONWOOD PARK/PARACHUTE FAIRGROUNDS.Â
June 26, 2025, 3:06 p.m. – EVACUATION: County Road 320 (Rifle-Rulison Road) and County Road 309 (Rulison-Parachute Road: Due to fire, EVACUATE the area immediately.
GarCo911: Incendio en County Road 320/CR 309: EVACUAR el área inmediatamente
26 de junio de 2025, 15:35 – AVISO DE PREEVACUACION: a más de una milla, pero a menos de dos millas de la carretera del condado 320/carretera del condado 309: Debido a un incendio, por favor, prepárense para posibles Ăłrdenes de evacuaciĂłn emitidas por la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Garfield. Recibirán otro mensaje si se ordena la evacuaciĂłn.
26 de junio de 2025, 15:26 – EVACUACION: Carretera del Condado 320/Carretera del Condado 309: Debido al incendio, evacue la zona inmediatamente. Si se encuentra al ESTE del incendio, evacue al RECINTO FERIAL de Rifle; si se encuentra al OESTE del incendio, evacue al PARQUE COTTONWOOD/RECINTO FERIAL DE PARACAIDISTAS.
26 de junio de 2025, 15:06 – EVACUACION: County Road 320 (Rifle-Rulison Road) y County Road 309 (Rulison-Parachute Road): debido al incendio, evacue el área inmediatamente.
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office
June 26, 2025, 3:38 p.m. – Brush Fire at County Road 309 (Rulison area), moving East and South. Pre-evacuation starting at County Road 329. Evacuations in place 1 mile West and East from Intersection of County Road 309 & 320. If you are on the West side you may evacuate to Parachute Fairgrounds on the East side to Garfield County Fairgrounds.
26 de junio de 2025, 15:38 – Incendio forestal en la carretera del condado 309 (zona de Rulison), avanzando al este y al sur. Se inicia la preevacuaciĂłn en la carretera del condado 329. Se han establecido evacuaciones a 1.6 km al oeste y al este de la intersecciĂłn de las carreteras del condado 309 y 320. Si se encuentra en el lado oeste, puede evacuar al recinto ferial Parachute, ubicado en el lado oeste, al recinto ferial del condado de Garfield.
Holy Cross Energy
June 26, 2025, 3:28 p.m. – Power is out in the Rulison to Parachute area due to fast-moving wildfire activity. Please avoid the area and take all necessary safety precautions.
26 de junio de 2025, 15:28 – Se ha producido un corte de electricidad en la zona de Rulison a Parachute debido a la rápida actividad de los incendios forestales. Evite la zona y tome todas las precauciones de seguridad necesarias.
Garfield County, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service, and the seven fire districts in Garfield County are implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions effective at midnight on Thursday, June 26, 2025. This applies to all of Garfield County.
This decision was made with thoughtful consideration. We look at the data, the potential for significant wildfires, and balance it with the impacts to our community. Our concern, with the level of fire danger we are seeing; one spark could quickly spread into a dangerous wildfire threatening lives, property, and natural resources.
Fire restrictions are implemented based on specific criteria, including moisture content of vegetation, weather outlooks, human risk factors, and firefighting resource availability. It has been hot, dry, and unseasonably windy. So far this year, we have had several Red Flag warnings. The National Weather Service is forecasting above average temperatures and dry conditions with no relief from rain anytime soon.
With increasingly dry vegetation, severe drought conditions, and more hot and dry conditions approaching, the danger for human-caused wildfires increases even more.
What Stage I fire restrictions mean in Garfield CountyFireworks are not allowed under Stage I Fire Restrictions. Professional fireworks shows may be allowed through the permitting process.All burn permits are postponed/Canceled until further notice.Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed areas (i.e. a permanent in-ground containment structure or store bought fire pit) A temporary fire pan and rock campfire rings will not be acceptable.No fires of any type including charcoal in undeveloped areas.No smoking except within a designated area, enclosed vehicle or building, a developed area or in an area free of combustibles.No use of fireworks or explosive materials, including “exploding” targets or bullets and tracer rounds.Exercise common sense and industry safety practice when welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame always cleared safe area of vegetation and combustibles.
Penalties Causing a fire during fire restrictions can be a class 6 felony and can be punishable by fines. Other possible charges range from a Class 2 felony to a petty offense depending on the value of the damage caused. You may be held financially responsible for damage caused.
Federal lands The use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices, including exploding targets, are always prohibited on Federal lands.
By definition: A “developed area” is an area, whether within city limits or rural, that is groomed, manicured and or watered, where grasses, brush and trees are regularly attended to by landowner. This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.
An “undeveloped area” are lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered, where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured park lands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined by the authority having jurisdiction or designee to be an undue wildland fire hazard.
U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management
White River National Forest and BLM Upper Colorado River District to enact stage 1 fire restrictions
June 25, 2025, 1:04 p.m. – GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – All lands managed by the White River National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management Upper Colorado River District will be under stage 1 fire restrictions beginning Friday, June 27.
Under stage 1 restrictions for the Bureau of Land Management and White River National Forest:
campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds (including the Forest Service Homestake Valley designated dispersed camping sites in Eagle County); this means a metal, in-ground containment structure — fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable.
no fires of any type including charcoal outside of developed areas
no smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or in a barren area free of vegetation
no use of explosive materials, including explosive targets
no welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame except from an area that has been cleared of vegetation
no operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and in working order
Although conditions vary across the area, a longer-term drying trend is expected to continue.
“Fire restrictions are prudent at this time considering the long-range forecast, fuel moisture conditions on the ground, and the continued high public visitation,” said White River National Forest Supervisor Brian Glaspell. “In developed campgrounds where campfires are permitted, please ensure your fire is completely out and cold before leaving.”
“As we enter stage 1 fire restrictions, it’s crucial for everyone to understand the importance of fire safety during this dry season,” said BLM Upper Colorado River District Manager Greg Larson. “We urge all residents and visitors to be vigilant and responsible with any outdoor activities that could spark a fire. Remember, fireworks are not allowed on federal land.”
Officials consider several criteria when determining the need for fire restrictions, including current and anticipated fire danger, resource availability, and consistency with neighboring jurisdictions. Local, county, state and federal officials within this area evaluate and coordinate fire restrictions weekly during fire season.
BLM Grand Junction and Colorado River Valley Field Offices, part of the BLM Upper Colorado River District, and unincorporated private lands in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin and Summit counties will also enter fire restrictions this week.
June 23, 2025, 4:26 p.m. – Garfield County has passed an ordinance prohibiting the use, sale, and possession of fireworks in unincorporated areas. Garfield County Emergency Manager Chris Bornholdt told the Board of County Commissioners that local conditions and future predictions indicate an extreme fire danger in the area. The ordinance notes that sagebrush fuel moisture “is at or below 100 percent, a near record low.
Measurements taken in the county indicate Pinyon pine and juniper fuel moisture is 72 percent (significantly below normal moisture content percentages). Fuel moisture percentages are expected to further decrease in the next two weeks, creating high fire danger.”
Flammable shrubs will “burn aggressively” if live moisture content is between 100 and less than 80 percent, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is projecting no significant rain the 14 days following June 23, 2025. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is anticipating above average temperatures from now through August in the region, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s drought monitor classifies the majority of Garfield County in “severe drought.”
The board assessed the evidence and found that high fire danger exists, supporting the fireworks prohibition. A state law exempts firework prohibitions between the dates of May 31 through July 5, unless counties show “competent evidence of high fire danger.”
Anyone using fireworks in violation of the ordinance is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 for each separate violation.
The ordinance covers unincorporated Garfield County; municipalities make their own rules regarding whether fireworks are prohibited. On federal lands, including Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands, the use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices, including exploding targets, is always prohibited.
The board unanimously approved the ordinance, 3-0, which is in effect immediately and remains so for one year.
