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Wildfire Information
Current Status:
The Lowline Fire is a lightning-caused wildfire burning 14 miles north-northwest of Gunnison and 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, between Squirrel and Mill Creek drainages, 3.5 miles west of County Road 730 (Ohio Creek). It is 1999 acres and 55% contained.
For detailed fire updates, maps, and smoke reports, visit the GMUG Fire Information Facebook page (no Facebook account required) here: GMUG Fire Information
Evacuations:
All evacuations have been lifted at this time. Residents along County Road 727 are still encouraged to be prepared to evacuate if conditions change.
Road Closures:
All road closures have been lifted. County Road 727 (Mill Creek) is OPEN.
Public Lands Closures:
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Gunnison Ranger District and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Gunnison Field Office lifted the Lowline Fire area closure due to significantly reduced fire behavior over the winter.
Please consider the following hazards when entering the Lowline Fire area and take appropriate safety precautions:
- Falling snags or trees
- Rapidly spreading fire
- Rolling material such as rocks or logs
- Heavy smoke and limited visibility
- Holes from burned out stumps
- Coal refuse piles–extreme heat could be present
Helpful Links:
- GMUG Fire Info Facebook
- Inciweb: Lowline Incident Overview (Live Fire Map Here)
- Public Evacuation Map
- Sign up for Gunnison Regional Alerts Here
To Report a Wildfire, Call 9-1-1
DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION! Try to provide the following information if it is available: location (as specific as possible), smoke color, smoke direction, size of fire area (if possible), flame height (if possible).
Current Fire Restrictions
As of 12:01am on Wednesday, June 29th, 2022, there are no fire restrictions for Gunnison County. See Gunnison County Sheriff Fire Restriction Order #2022-002 for more information. This applies to all of unincorporated Gunnison County. Please note federal agencies (such as USFS, BLM, and NPS) may have their own fire restrictions in place.
General Fire Reminders
- Gunnison County Burn Ordinance (PDF) requires persons igniting controlled burns or open fires (excludes recreational campfires) in unincorporated parts of the county to contact the Gunnison Communications Center at 970-641-8000 before beginning.
- Open fires are not permitted in the town or city limits of Crested Butte and Gunnison.
- In Mt. Crested Butte open fires are only permitted in puts, barrels, or similar containers.
- Clear flammable material away from campfires.
- Before lighting a fire check the current fire restriction information.
- Put out your campfire with water before you leave and make sure the ashes are cool to the touch.
- Never leave a campfire unattended for any reason.
- Contain campfires within existing fire rings or rock structures.
- YOUR campfire is YOUR responsibility.
- Fireworks are not allowed on any federal lands.
- Review the Gunnison County Burn Ordinance (PDF).
- View the videos below for a better understanding of the Fire Restriction Stages.
Red Flag Warning
A Red Flag Warning means no open burning. Please refer to Ordinance #16: An Ordinance Authorizing the Identification of "Red Flag" Fire Days (PDF).
For information on Red Flag Warnings check the National Weather Service forecast page for the Gunnison area. If a Red Flag Warning is in effect it will be listed under Hazardous Weather Outlook on the Gunnison area forecast page. Red Flag Warning information may also be obtained by calling the following:
- Gunnison Regional Communications Center - (970) 641-8200 - Option 1
- Montrose Interagency Dispatch Center - (970) 249-1010
Fireworks
Absolutely no fireworks of any type are permitted on Federal or State lands, including;
- BLM Lands
- Division of Wildlife Owned Lands
- National Forests & Parks
- State Forests & Parks
- State Wildlife Areas
In unincorporated Gunnison County, the towns of Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, and the City of Gunnison, fireworks that leave the ground or explode are prohibited.
Fire officials from local, State, and Federal Agencies meet regularly to review the situation in Gunnison County and will initiate appropriate measures when and if necessary. For additional information contact the appropriate agency.
Take Precautions
It is normally very dry in the Gunnison Basin and extreme care should be exercised when using fire anywhere in the County, whether for burning weeds, slash piles, or for camping. Make sure you have the appropriate fire suppression tools and supplies readily available when starting a fire. Also, ensure that you have in place a suitable buffer between a fire and potential combustibles. Finally, make sure you use it in a safe, responsible manner.
Fire Restriction & Wildfire Information Websites:
- West Slope Fire Information
- Colorado Fire Bans & Restrictions
- Colorado Map Restrictions (Interactive Map, click on shaded areas for more information)
- Colorado DFPC Current Wildfires (Interactive Map - click on blue markers for more information)
- Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (DFPC)
- Inciweb (National)
- Colorado Fire Bans & Current Fires (COEmergency.com - Compiled Information)
- Live Fire Web App
- West Region Wildfire Council
- Montrose Inter-agency Fire Management Unit
- Guidance for Health & Home Safety (PDF)
- Guidance for Cleanup of Damaged/Destroyed Buildings