Wright Draw 2025

 As of Monday, July 28, this webpage will no longer be updated unless there is a significant increase in fire activity on the Wright Draw Fire. Please contact the BLM Grand Junction Field Office with any questions. Email: blm_co_gj_web_mail@blm.gov, Phone: 970-244-3000.

 A local type 3 incident management team will begin management of the Turner Gulch and Wright Draw Fires at 7 a.m., Monday, July 28. The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (CIMT1) assumed management of the Turner Gulch and Wright Draw Fires on Tuesday morning, July 15, 2025. The Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit Type 3 Incident Management Team previously managed the fire under extreme fire conditions.

The Turner Gulch and Wright Draw fires were both discovered on July 10th, 2025, during a red flag event that was preceded by extensive dry lightning. Burning on both sides of Unaweep Canyon, these fires are difficult to access and threatening values within the canyon and along Highway 141 near Gateway, Colorado. 

Extreme drought conditions, steep terrain, and hot and dry weather have been a challenge to firefighters on the Turner Gulch and Wright Draw Fires.

Evacuations:

Evacuations and pre-evacuations may occur if fire activity increases. For current evacuation information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/Mesacountysheriffsoffice.

An interactive evacuation web map is available for checking the fire location and evacuation status. You can find it here. 

To sign up for Emergency Alerts, please visit the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center Emergency and Community Notification System website at https://bit.ly/Emergency_Alerts.

Closures and Fire Restrictions:

Highway 141 reopened on Monday, July 21. Increased traffic from members of the public wanting to look at the fire may impede fire operations and potentially put firefighters at risk or prevent them from moving quickly in response to increased fire activity. Please be alert and drive carefully.

For information on area, road, trail, and recreation site closures visit: https://www.facebook.com/BLMColorado

or https://www.blm.gov/office/grand-junction-field-office.

Fire restrictions may be found at this link: https://www.mesacounty.us/departments-and-services/sheriff/divisions/emergency-services/fire-restrictions.

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Operational Briefing videos can be watched on the Turner Gulch and Wright Draw YouTube page. 

The Community meeting held in Gateway on Wednesday, July 16 can be viewed at this link.