Montrose Interagency Dispatch Area

Montrose - High Elevation

Monday, August 03

Today's Fire Danger is Very High
Last updated: 8/3/2026 03:11 Fire restrictions in place, for up to date info: West Slope Fire Info

Where Is This Area?

The Montrose - High Elevation Fire Danger Rating Area , spanning parts of Gunnison, Saguache, San Miguel, Hinsdale, Chaffee, Pitkin, Mesa, Delta, Ouray, Montrose, San Juan, Mineral, Dolores counties.

Communities in this area include: Gunnison, Telluride, Crested Butte, Ouray, Lake City, Mountain Village, Mount Crested Butte, Placerville. Rating areas are grouped by fire environment — elevation, fuels, and climate — not by town, so your community may sit in an area named for a different place.

Overview

Fire danger is Very High today, driven by critically low humidity and top-percentile fuel dryness (ERC 91%, BI 97%), with 4 of 7 local Watchout thresholds exceeded.

  • Danger climbs through the week, reaching Extreme by Friday and Saturday as ERC pushes to 98%.
  • Hot, dry weather persists — highs near 80-91°F, minimum humidity dropping to single digits by midweek, with breezy N/NNE winds and zero rain in the 7-day outlook.
  • No Red Flag Warning is posted for today, but patchy smoke is expected tonight and Tuesday from area fires.
  • Montrose County is under Stage 1 fire restrictions (Stage 2 begins Aug. 8); Ouray and Gunnison counties are already in Stage 2 — no open burning or campfires.
  • The Gold Mountain Fire north of Ouray is 39,507 acres and 72% contained; the Elk Fire near Lake City is 2,349 acres and 49% contained — both hold area/road closures.

Overview generated by Claude, Monday, August 03

Current Local Info

Gold Mountain Fire

Burning north of Ouray on the GMUG National Forest. The incident team posts a video briefing most mornings (around 10am) — the player always shows the latest.

Elk Fire

Burning in the Uncompahgre Wilderness north of Lake City, near the Gunnison–Hinsdale county line. Live updates below from the incident's official Facebook page.

Feed not loading? Some browsers block Facebook embeds — view updates on Facebook ↗

Pocket Card

Montrose (High Elevation) Pocket Card ERC's Max 2026 Observed 2026 Forecasted 2020 2018 2025 90th 0 20 40 60 80 1-Jan1-Mar1-May1-Jul1-Sep1-Nov

Today's Conditions

91% ERC % ▲ threshold > 90%
97% BI % ▲ threshold > 90%
14 Winds threshold > 15
NNE Wind Dir
0.00 24hr Rain
82 Max Temp threshold > 86
14 Min Rh ▲ threshold < 25
14 1000hr Fuels threshold < 12
40 Max Rh ▲ threshold < 55

Weather & Air Quality

Local Thresholds

ERC > 90%, BI > 90%, Wind Speed > 15 Max Temp > 86, Min Rh < 25, 1000hr Fuels < 12, Max RH < 55 If three or more of the seven thresholds are met, consider it a watchout.

High Elevation FDRA Extended Forecast

Indicator 3-Aug4-Aug5-Aug6-Aug7-Aug8-Aug9-Aug
Adjective Fire Danger Danger Very High Very High Very High Very High Very High Extreme Extreme
ERC-Y Percentile ERC % 91% ▲ 93% ▲ 94% ▲ 96% ▲ 97% ▲ 98% ▲ 98% ▲
BI-Y Percentile BI % 97% ▲ 93% ▲ 98% ▲ 98% ▲ 97% ▲ 94% ▲ 94% ▲
Temperature Temp 82 81 80 79 79 80 79
Relative Humidity Min RH 14 ▲ 15 ▲ 9 ▲ 8 ▲ 8 ▲ 10 ▲ 13 ▲
Winds Wind 14 11 13 13 10 8 9
Wind Direction Wind Dir NNE NE NNE N NNE NNE NE
Precipitation 24hr rain Rain 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1000hr Fuels 1000-hr Fuels 14 14 13 13 13 12 12
Max Rh Max RH 40 ▲ 49 ▲ 56 42 ▲ 43 ▲ 36 ▲ 34 ▲
ERC-Y (Actual Number 1-66) ERC 42.7 44 46 48 50 51 52
BI-Y (Actual Number 1-52) BI 37 34 38 40 36 34 35

Fires to Remember

Fire DateERCBITempRhWinds1000-HrFire Danger
Low Line 7/26/202391%88%8215712Very High

Local Fire Information

The High Elevation Fire Danger Rating Area uses the following Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) which are equally weighted in value, using Fuel Model Y (Timber) incorporating data years 2005-2024 are: Huntsman (52813), Lujan (54702), Needle Creek (54704), Taylor Park (52812)

If you are interested in having this data emailed to you daily as a PDF, please email: 38north.llc@gmail.com