South Rim (2025-07-10)

4,232 acre wildfire (52% contained)

InciWeb page: COBCP South Rim Status: Inactive Size: 4,232 acre Contained: 52%

South Rim Live Perimeter Growth

South Rim Fire Growth History

South Rim Containment History

South Rim Fire Alert Timeline

Jul 28, 2025 Other

South Rim Fire reaches 41% containment at 4,232 acres. Crews continue using drones with infrared sensors to monitor fire due to difficult terrain access. Fire has been burning for 18 days.

Sources: UPDATE: South Rim Fire reaches 41% containment (2025-07-29) UPDATE: South Rim Fire reaches 41% containment (2025-07-28)

Jul 23, 2025 Evacuation level 1

All South Rim Fire evacuation orders downgraded to Level 1 (Ready) status at 4 PM. Residents may return home while Highway 347 remains closed except for permitted resident access.

Sources: South Rim Fire Evacuation Order Update | Montrose County Sheriff's Office (2025-07-23)

Jul 20, 2025 Other

South Rim Fire reaches 31% containment at 4,220 acres. Blue Mesa Reservoir west of middle bridge reopens to watercraft access as fire crews make progress on northwest fire perimeter.

Sources: Firefighters made progress over weekend extinguishing West Slope fires, drier air expected later this week (2025-07-21) Boating on western Colorado reservoir resumes as crews gain more containment on South Rim fire (2025-07-21)

Jul 18, 2025 Other

South Rim Fire gains first containment at 14% with fire holding at 4,227 acres. Initial assessment shows visitor center survived but campground and several facilities destroyed.

Sources: Fire burning on 4,227 acres in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park starts to be contained (2025-07-18) Rainy weather helps crews make progress on Western Slope fires, but also brings possibility of flash flooding in burn scars (2025-07-18)

Jul 13, 2025 State of emergency

Governor Polis declares state of emergency for Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties due to South Rim Fire and other lightning-sparked wildfires. State resources activated for firefighting support.

Sources: Governor Polis Verbally Declares Disaster Declaration For Wildfires in Montrose, Delta and Mesa County (2025-07-13) Gov. Polis declares emergency as South Rim fire in Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park grows, still zero percent contained (2025-07-13)

Jul 13, 2025 Other

Air quality alert issued for all of western Colorado due to moderate to heavy wildfire smoke from South Rim Fire and other fires. Alert remains in effect through Monday.

Sources: Gov. Polis declares emergency as South Rim fire in Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park grows, still zero percent contained (2025-07-13) Rainy weather helps crews make progress on Western Slope fires, but also brings possibility of flash flooding in burn scars (2025-07-18)

Jul 13, 2025 Evacuation level 3

Level 3 evacuation (GO NOW) expanded to include residences on M73, N73, N74, and O74 roads due to continued fire growth and dangerous conditions. Fire reaches 3,633 acres.

Sources: Gov. Polis declares emergency as South Rim fire in Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park grows, still zero percent contained (2025-07-13) Colorado wildfires: More evacuations issued for Turner Gulch fire on Colorado's Western Slope (2025-07-14)

Jul 12, 2025 Evacuation level 3

Level 3 evacuation (GO NOW) ordered for Bostwick Park community and K73 Trail due to rapid fire growth. All zones 1-6 must evacuate immediately as South Rim Fire reaches 2,982 acres with 0% containment.

Sources: Evacuations issued for Montrose County due to South Rim Fire (2025-07-13) Bostwick Park issued evac alert as South Rim Fire grows to almost 2,900 acres (2025-07-12)

Jul 12, 2025 Road closure

Highway 347 closed indefinitely at junction with US-50 due to South Rim Fire. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park remains closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.

Sources: Evacuations issued for Montrose County due to South Rim Fire (2025-07-13) Gov. Polis declares emergency as South Rim fire in Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park grows, still zero percent contained (2025-07-13)

Jul 10, 2025 Other

South Rim Fire sparks from lightning strike at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park at 11:39 AM. All park visitors and staff evacuated as fire grows to 1,640 acres with 0% containment. Park closed indefinitely.

Sources: South Rim Fire - InciWeb (2025-07-10) Status of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (2025-07-10) Evacuations still in place at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park as South Rim fire grows Friday (2025-07-10)

South Rim Fire Alert Timeline

Jul 23, 2025 Evacuation level 1

All South Rim Fire evacuation orders downgraded to Level 1 (Ready) status. Residents may return home while Highway 347 remains closed except for permitted resident access.

Sources: South Rim Fire Evacuation Order Update | Montrose County Sheriff's Office (2025-07-23) South Rim is a type of Incident | InciWeb (2025-07-25)

Jul 18, 2025 Other

South Rim Fire gains first containment at 14% with fire holding at 4,227 acres. Initial assessment shows visitor center survived but campground and several facilities destroyed.

Jul 13, 2025 Other

Air quality alert issued for all of western Colorado due to moderate to heavy wildfire smoke from South Rim Fire and other fires. Alert remains in effect through Monday.

Jul 13, 2025 State of emergency

Governor Polis declares state of emergency for Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties due to South Rim Fire and other lightning-sparked wildfires. State resources activated for firefighting support.

Jul 13, 2025 Evacuation level 3

Level 3 evacuation (GO NOW) expanded to include residences on M73, N73, N74, and O74 roads due to continued fire growth and dangerous conditions. Fire reaches 3,633 acres.

Jul 12, 2025 Road closure

Highway 347 closed indefinitely at junction with US-50 due to South Rim Fire. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park remains closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.

Jul 12, 2025 Evacuation level 3

Sources: Evacuations issued for Montrose County due to South Rim Fire (2025-07-13) Bostwick Park issued evac alert as South Rim Fire grows to almost 2,900 acres (2025-07-12)

Jul 10, 2025 Other

South Rim Fire Alert Timeline

Jul 13, 2025 State of emergency

Governor Polis declares state of emergency for Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties due to South Rim Fire and other lightning-sparked wildfires. State resources activated for firefighting support.

Jul 13, 2025 Other

Air quality alert issued for all of western Colorado due to moderate to heavy wildfire smoke from South Rim Fire and other fires. Alert remains in effect through Monday.

Jul 13, 2025 Evacuation level 3

Level 3 evacuation (GO NOW) expanded to include residences on M73, N73, N74, and O74 roads due to continued fire growth and dangerous conditions. Fire reaches 3,633 acres.

Jul 12, 2025 Road closure

Highway 347 closed indefinitely at junction with US-50 due to South Rim Fire. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park remains closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.

Jul 12, 2025 Evacuation level 3

Sources: Evacuations issued for Montrose County due to South Rim Fire (2025-07-13) Bostwick Park issued evac alert as South Rim Fire grows to almost 2,900 acres (2025-07-12)