Colorado Wildfires

Western Colorado counties are breathing easier after months of extreme fire danger, but the season isn't over yet.

Western Slope counties are loosening fire restrictions as September begins, but danger still lingers from months of extreme drought.

Gold Mountain Fire is nearly contained at 92 percent. Evacuation zones are lifting and popular hiking trails are reopening.

Two major wildfires are still burning across western Colorado, and the closures are affecting a lot more than just hiking trails.

Firefighters are struggling to get close to the Elk Fire. The rugged terrain west of Highway 149 has made direct ground operations nearly impossible.

The burn scar left behind by the Gold Mountain Fire is making a rough situation a lot worse along US 550 between Ouray and Silverton.

Mandatory evacuations are still in place along parts of Highway 50 and the Big Cimarron corridor, while other zones have quietly moved to voluntary status overnight.

Nearly a thousand firefighters are working the Gold Mountain Fire alone — and that number tells you something about what crews are up against near Cimarron Ridge.

Grand Junction barely saw a drop of rain, but Unaweep Canyon got flash flooding and two brand-new fires in the same 24-hour stretch.

Residents are watching evacuation zones closely, while travelers should be prepared for smoky skies and changing road conditions.