Connie in Ouray

 Just one day, one day I'd like it to be all good news, but we're not there yet.  Bad news:  as of today, Monday, July 6, just under 28,000 acres burned.  Good news:  3% containment!  Yay, containment.  Bad news:  expected full containment date is 10/31/26, which coincides with a high probability of measurable snowfall in the high country.   Good news:  the winds have finally calmed down, which allowed the 800+ firefighters to get that 3% containment.  The bad news:  no winds means the smoke has settled in Ouray, and it's awful.  My house is shut up, no windows or doors open, and I'm wearing a mask.   Some photos from the last time I posted: Looking southwest from Sutton Trail Saturday Thursday night concert in Ridgway. Life must go on? From Ridgway, these just keep popping up Intersection of CR-23 and 550, looking east

18,000 acres burned, zero containment, no lives nor structures lost. A southern portion of Montrose County is now on pre-evacuation notice as the fire continues to move northeast.  Zone 34 is directly east of Colona, pretty far away, and includes Cimarron State Wildlife Area, which is about 23 miles east of Montrose off of Highway 50. As I write this, I'm hearing planes in the air.  Yay!!  As of noon today, we are under a red flag warning for gusty winds until eight p.m.  We cannot catch a break.  Good news:  rain in the forecast for next week.  Bad news:  accompanied by thunderstorms, which means...you can guess, lightning. From Sutton Mine Trail yesterday: