GCSO: Residents may return to homes in Battlement Mesa

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Garfield County Sheriff, Grand Valley Fire

7.5.26, 9:30 pm – Residents of The Reserve/Battlement Mesa Village are now able to return to their homes. The fire will be monitored by crews overnight. Thank you.

Battlement Mesa Trail Fire July 5, 2026

Battlement Mesa Trail Fire July 5, 2026

Battlement Mesa Trail Fire July 5, 2026

Update: Traffic is reopened on CO RD 301.

Update 6:05 PM: Traffic is being allowed to exit down CO RD 301, leaving Battlement, however, no traffic is allowed to enter. Traffic being diverted to the Boat Ramp parking lot or being turned around.

7.5.26, 5:36 pm – COUNTY ROAD 309 BATTLEMENT MESA TO RULISON: Due to fire/fuego, you are in READY (GREEN) status. Prepare, monitor, and pack valuables. You will receive another message if your area’s status is changed.

Ready Set Go graphic

En español. De Garfield County Sheriff, Grand Valley Fire – COUNTY ROAD 309 BATTLEMENT MESA TO RULISON: Debido a fire/fuego, usted se encuentra en estado de preparaciĂłn (VERDE). Prepárese, mantĂ©ngase informado y empaque sus objetos de valor. Recibirá otro mensaje si cambia el estado de su zona.

Preparate, listo, fuera graphic
GCSO: Residents may return to homes in Battlement Mesa

GCSO: Battlement Mesa Golf/Battlement Creek Village immediate evacuation

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Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

7.5.26, 5:20 pm – From Garfield County Sheriff – Battlement Mesa Golf/Battlement Creek Village: due to fire/fuego, your status is GO (RED). Evacuate immediately.

Español sigue. Desde Garfield County Sheriff – Battlement Mesa Golf/Battlement Creek Village: debido a fire/fuego, su estado es IR (ROJO). EvacĂşe inmediatamente. Evacuate to Grand Valley High School.

GCSO: Battlement Mesa Golf/Battlement Creek Village immediate evacuation

GCSO: Fire at Battlement Mesa Golf Course

comms

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

7.5.25, 4:50 p.m. – Emergency crews are responding to a fire at the Battlement Mesa Golf Course. Prepare for possible short notice evacuation.

Avoid the area and give first responders plenty of room to work. We will share updates as more information becomes available.

GCSO: Incendio en el campo de golf Battlement Mesa

Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Garfield

7 de mayo de 2025, 16:50 h – Los equipos de emergencia están respondiendo a un incendio en el campo de golf Battlement Mesa. Prepárense para una posible evacuación con poca antelación.

Eviten la zona y dejen suficiente espacio para que los servicios de emergencia puedan trabajar. Compartiremos actualizaciones a medida que tengamos más información.

GCSO: Fire at Battlement Mesa Golf Course

Memorial service to fallen firefighters – live stream link

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U.S. Department of the Interior, Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

The link above will allow you to view the memorial on a live stream video.

The public is welcome to attend the memorial service honoring our fallen firefighters who were engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire.

Emily Barker, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack.

Nick Hutcherson, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.

Sydney Watson, assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.

Knowles Fire Memorial

July 5, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park
925 Struthers Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Media access will be limited to a staging area outside the venue.

Memorial service to fallen firefighters – live stream link

Memorial service to fallen firefighters

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U.S. Department of the Interior, Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture


The public is welcome to attend the memorial service honoring our fallen firefighters who were engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire.

Emily Barker, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack.

Nick Hutcherson, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.

Sydney Watson, assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.

Knowles Fire Memorial

July 5, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park
925 Struthers Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Media access will be limited to a staging area outside the venue.

The memorial will be available via a livestream link that will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Memorial service to fallen firefighters

GCSO: Snyder Fire Firefighters Benefit Account

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Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

In times of tragedy, Colorado communities come together.

Alpine Bank has established the Snyder Fire Firefighter Families Benefit Account to support the families of the five firefighters impacted by the Snyder Fire. Alpine Bank is contributing an initial $25,000, and community members, businesses and organizations are invited to join us in supporting these families during this incredibly difficult time.

Donations can be made online, by phone or in person at any Alpine Bank branch through August 31. Simply reference the “Snyder Fire Firefighter Families Benefit Account.”

Learn more or find donation information at alpinebank.com/snyderfire. 

GCSO: Snyder Fire Firefighters Benefit Account

CDPHE: air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke

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Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Avisos en Español para todo el Estado (Colorado)

Issued for Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, and northern parts of Montezuma and Saguache counties. Issued at 8:14 a.m. MDT, Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected area: Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, and northern parts of Montezuma and Saguache counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Craig, Steamboat Springs, Walden, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Meeker, Rangely, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Vail, Breckenridge, Central City, Georgetown, Grand Junction, Aspen, Leadville, Fairplay, Delta, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Montrose, Nucla, Ouray, Telluride, Dove Creek, Cortez and Saguache.

Advisory in effect: 9 a.m. MDT, Thursday, July 2, 2026 to 9 a.m. MDT, Friday, July 3, 2026.

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: Areas downwind of large fires in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah could have periods of moderate to heavy smoke through at least Friday morning.

For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

For the latest Smoke Blog, visit: https://colosmokeoutlook.blogspot.com/

For more information about smoke and your health, visit: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/outdoor-burning/wildfire-smoke-and-health

CDPHE: air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke

CDPHE: Air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke

webedit

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Avisos en Español para todo el Estado (Colorado)

Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, and northern parts of Montezuma and Saguache counties. Issued at 8:22 a.m. MDT, Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected area: Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, and northern parts of Montezuma and Saguache counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Craig, Steamboat Springs, Walden, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Meeker, Rangely, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Vail, Breckenridge, Central City, Georgetown, Grand Junction, Aspen, Leadville, Fairplay, Delta, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Montrose, Nucla, Ouray, Telluride, Dove Creek, and Saguache.

Advisory in effect: 9 a.m. MDT, Wednesday, July 1, 2026 to 9 a.m. MDT, Thursday, July 2, 2026.

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: Areas downwind of large fires in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah could have periods of moderate to heavy smoke through at least Thursday morning.

For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

For the latest Smoke Blog, visit: https://colosmokeoutlook.blogspot.com/

For more information about smoke and your health, visit: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/outdoor-burning/wildfire-smoke-and-health

CDPHE: Air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke

CDPHE: Air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke

webdev

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Avisos en Español para todo el Estado (Colorado)

Issued for Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, and northern parts of Montezuma and Saguache Counties

Issued at 8:02 AM MDT, Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected Area: Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Grand, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Chaffee, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, and northern parts of Montezuma and Saguache Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Craig, Steamboat Springs, Walden, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Meeker, Rangely, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Vail, Breckenridge, Central City, Georgetown, Grand Junction, Aspen, Leadville, Fairplay, Delta, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Montrose, Nucla, Ouray, Telluride, Dove Creek, and Saguache.

Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Tuesday, June 30, 2026 to 9:00 AM MDT, Wednesday, July 1, 2026

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: Areas downwind of large fires in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah could have periods of moderate to heavy smoke through at least Wednesday morning.

For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

For the latest Smoke Blog, visit: https://colosmokeoutlook.blogspot.com/

For more information about smoke and your health, visit: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/outdoor-burning/wildfire-smoke-and-health

CDPHE: Air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke

Identities released of three firefighters who died responding to Knowles Fire in Colorado

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U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service

We are saddened to share the identities of the three firefighters we lost responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado on Saturday. The firefighters were assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew and were engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire when the incident occurred.

The deceased firefighters have been identified as:

Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack.

Nick Hutcherson, 27 of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.

Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.

Two additional firefighters were injured during the incident and are receiving medical care.

“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” said U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service. Please join me and my family in keeping our thoughts and prayers with the families of the fallen and our injured firefighters and their families.”

Full press release

U.S. WILDLAND FIRE SERVICE
website | facebook @USWFS

Departments of the Interior and Agriculture coordinating support for families, crews and communities 

MESA COUNTY, Colo. — Federal wildland fire officials are releasing the identities of three firefighters who died while responding to the Knowles Fire in western Colorado on Saturday.

The firefighters were assigned to the Rifle Helitack crew and were engaged in initial attack operations on the Knowles Fire when the incident occurred.

The deceased firefighters have been identified as:

  • Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack.
  • Nick Hutcherson, 27 of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.
  • Sydney Watson, 26, of Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.

Two additional firefighters were injured during the incident and are receiving medical care.

The Snyder Fire has merged with the Jones Fire and subsequently overtook the Knowles and Gore fires. All fire activity is now being managed and reported as the Snyder Fire. The fire is currently estimated at over 28,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border.

An interagency complex incident management team has assumed command of the Snyder Fire.

“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” said U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service. Please join me and my family in keeping our thoughts and prayers with the families of the fallen and our injured firefighters and their families.”

“This is an incredibly difficult moment for the entire wildland fire community,” said Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher. “Our heavy hearts are with the families during this unimaginable time. We recognize the tremendous impact this loss has on them and are deeply grateful for the devotion their loved ones brought to our organizations. We will honor their memory with compassion and support as their selfless service and commitment create an enduring legacy.”

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service are closely coordinating response efforts and providing support to the families, coworkers and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy.

A serious accident investigation team has been mobilized and is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The wildland firefighting community mourns the loss of these firefighters. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Identities released of three firefighters who died responding to Knowles Fire in Colorado