Western Slope evacuees in limbo as crews work to stymie wildfire growth

Listen Now
8min 03sec
Western Slope wildfire smoke turns the sky orange
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Smoke from wildfires burning near Gateway, Colorado, and on the Utah border, can be seen at sunset from the hills to the east of Montrose, Colorado, July 14, 2025

The smoke plume from the Turner Gulch Fire
Photo via InciWeb
The smoke plume from the Turner Gulch Fire can be seen in this photo provided by InciWeb, Monday, July 14, 2025

Black Canyon South Rim Wildfire
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Signs on Highway 50 outside Montrose tell motorists the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is closed, July 13, 2025. Numerous state and federal agencies, including firefighters on the ground, aircraft dropping retardant from above, have been working to contain the South Rim wildfire burning in the park since it started last week. Most of the fire is on NPS land and some Bureau of Land Management land, west of Montrose, Colorado.

Woman in a visor holding a small cream colored dog smiling at the camera
Tom Hesse/CPR News