A fresh fire sparked near Montrose is now out, but several others across the region continue to burn—some dangerously close to homes, highways, and national parks.

A wildfire that ignited Sunday afternoon near Kinikin Road and Highway 50 in Montrose County didn’t stick around for long, but it left a temporary trail of closures and power outages in its wake. Thankfully, firefighting teams acted fast, and by Monday morning the blaze was under control.

But that’s just one chapter in what’s turning out to be another intense fire season for Colorado and neighboring Utah. Several other fires—some sparked by lightning, others still under investigation—are still smoldering. And despite strong containment efforts, they continue to test both patience and resources across the Western Slope.

Kinikin Fire Put Out, But It Left a Mark

The Kinikin Fire, though brief, had the kind of impact no one needs on a hot weekend. It broke out early Sunday afternoon—July 27—right off Highway 50 and Kinikin Road, sending smoke into the sky and forcing traffic to a halt.

Firefighters jumped in quickly. Within hours, they’d managed to knock it down. Still, more than 350 residents lost power for several hours.

No homes were damaged, and by Sunday evening, Xcel Energy had restored electricity to the area.

One sentence paragraph? Yes. The cause is still being looked into.

Officials haven’t yet said if it was human-caused or sparked by something else. But as dry conditions continue to grip much of western Colorado, fire risk remains high—especially near major roads and populated spots like Montrose.

South Rim Fire Inches Toward Half Containment

The South Rim Fire continues to burn deep inside the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It’s big—4,232 acres—and complicated by rugged terrain and limited access points.

Crews have now contained 41% of the blaze, according to the latest reports from the National Park Service. Progress has been steady, though fire lines are being tested by gusty winds and fluctuating humidity levels.

Interestingly, officials announced that the North Rim of the park—closed earlier due to fire risk—will reopen to the public on July 30. That includes hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and the North Rim Campground.

It’s a calculated risk, and one they say is supported by the location of the fire lines and confidence in ongoing suppression efforts.

Park officials are urging visitors to stay alert, follow closures, and avoid risky behavior that could spark new fires.

Turner Gulch and Deer Creek Fires: Containment Numbers Improving

Two of the largest fires burning in the region are showing signs of settling down, but they’re far from finished.

The Turner Gulch Fire along Highway 141 was sparked by lightning and has been burning steadily. It’s torched 19,432 acres as of Monday and is 54% contained.

Meanwhile, the Deer Creek Fire—which straddles the Colorado-Utah border—has burned 17,724 acres. Containment there has reached an encouraging 77%.

Let’s lay it out clearly:

• Turner Gulch Fire: 19,432 acres burned, 54% contained

• Deer Creek Fire: 17,724 acres burned, 77% contained

• South Rim Fire: 4,232 acres burned, 41% contained

• Kinikin Fire: Extinguished, area under investigation

• Wright Draw Fire: 92% contained

• Sowbelly Fire: 95% contained

The numbers help, but they only tell part of the story. Firefighters are facing hard days—uneven terrain, high temps, and the stress of keeping flames from creeping too close to homes or roadways.

Wright Draw and Sowbelly Fires Nearing Full Containment

Not all the news is grim. Two fires—Wright Draw and Sowbelly—are nearly under control.

The Wright Draw Fire is now 92% contained, and officials expect it could be fully wrapped up within days if conditions hold.

Same goes for the Sowbelly Fire, sitting at 95% containment. Both have been monitored for days, and neither has made significant runs in the past week.

One firefighter on the ground described it as “watch duty with a side of anxiety”—because until a fire hits 100%, there’s always a chance of flare-ups.

It’s the kind of near-finish line that still comes with nerves.

Weather Could Tip the Scales—For Better or Worse

Looking ahead, the forecast for the week is… a bit of a mixed bag.

Temperatures are expected to stay high—hovering in the 90s across much of western Colorado and eastern Utah. But there’s also a chance for isolated afternoon thunderstorms later this week.

And that’s a double-edged sword.

A little rain would be welcome. But lightning? That’s exactly what sparked several of the current fires—Turner Gulch included.

Here’s a quick weather outlook from the National Weather Service, focused on fire-prone zones:

Crews are keeping watch on weather patterns as closely as they’re tracking fire behavior.

If storms stay dry—producing lightning but no rain—the situation could get worse before it gets better.