Rainfall triggered dangerous flash flooding across parts of southwestern Colorado this week, prompting local authorities to close roads and issue evacuations near areas that have been scorched by a raging wildfire.
On Wednesday, the Ouray County Sheriff's Office ordered evacuations across the Ponderosa Village area along Cutler Creek between the communities of Ridgway and Ouray. The department urged residents to seek higher ground and evacuate to the Ridgway Secondary School after intense flooding swept through the area, fueled by heavy rain across the Gold Mountain Fire burn scar.
"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," officials said. "Do not attempt to travel UNLESS you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order."
Authorities said Red Mountain Pass between Ouray and Silverton was closed due to additional flooding and warned drivers to avoid the Imogene and Engineer passes due to possible rockslides. The Colorado Department of Transportation said at least eight mudslides had hit the Red Mountain corridor. Photos shared on social media show crews in heavy machinery working to remove mud, rocks, and excess water from the roadway.
A state of emergency was declared on June 28 for the wildfire, which erupted the day before just a couple of miles north of Ouray. According to local media reports, the sheriff's office initially said the blaze was sparked by a downed powerline, but later noted that the cause was under investigation.
As of Thursday morning, the Gold Mountain Fire has burned almost 40,000 acres, with containment at 62 percent, leaving behind charred burn scars in its wake.
The National Weather Service reports that land downhill or downstream from burned areas faces an increased risk of flash flooding and landslides because wildfire-damaged soil repels water, causing rainfall to flow across the surface instead of soaking into the ground.
In a press release Wednesday, Ouray County leaders encouraged residents in surrounding areas, including those near the Cutler, Dexter, and Cow creeks, to pack an emergency bag and watch for additional flash flood alerts and evacuation orders.
"If flooding occurs, evacuate, climb to higher ground if you are not able to evacuate, and if you are trapped call 911 for assistance," officials said. "Do not stop on highways and roads for unnecessary purposes, and keep moving."
Multiple wildfires are burning across Colorado, including the Aspen Acres Fire, which is currently the largest, with about 66 percent containment.
The blaze began on June 29 and has burned roughly 102,000 acres in the south-central part of the state, primarily affecting the Custer and Pueblo counties. The fire has destroyed hundreds of homes and has also forced evacuations and road closures across the region amid heavy flash flooding.