Lowline Fire In Gunnison County Growing And Spreading Rapidly

It's summertime, and unfortunately, that means there are wildfires in Colorado. This year, we've been very fortunate to receive record snow and rains which have helped to decrease the number and size of wildfires in our great state, but despite this influx of water, these natural disasters cannot be avoided entirely. Right now, The Lowline Fire in Gunnison County is spreading between Gunnison and Crested Butte. Firefighters are on the scene and are working hard to get the fire under control, but it continues to burn and grow.

Gunnison County is beautiful! The mountains in this part of the state are some of the most spectacular of all in a state that's chock full of breathtaking places.

People who live in Gunnison and Crested Butte are lucky to live there, and it's no surprise that people come from all over the state, nation, and world to hike and recreate in this region.

Unfortunately, Gunnison County is currently the site of the Lowline Fire. This wildfire began due to a lightning strike last Wednesday, and it continues to burn and grow. So far, it has burned 1,300 acres.

As of the morning of Monday, July 31st, it was only 15% contained. Lightning strikes are the most common cause of wildfires in Colorado.

The fire is concentrated on a 9,400-foot ridge between Squirrel and Mill Creeks.

It's 14 miles north-northwest of Gunnison and 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte.

Although this is a rural area, there are some structures and buildings that are threatened by this fire. A mandatory evacuation is in place for those who live nearby.

Residents with livestock can take them to Gunnison County Fairgrounds to keep them safe.

Firefighters are working hard to contain and defeat this fire. About 400 firefighters are currently fighting it.

Visitors are advised to stay far from this area until the fire is contained.

It's crucial that the firefighters are able to focus on fighting the fire instead of on rescuing curious people.

Wildfires are a fact of life in Colorado. Fortunately, our state's firefighters - and those who come from other states to help - will do everything that they can to stop these fires from growing further, and will keep Colorado's residents, visitors, homes, forests, and wildlife as safe as possible. The Lowline Fire in Gunnison County is Colorado's second-largest wildfire so far this year, and we can only hope it will be contained quickly. Be safe, and always be on the lookout for fires in Colorado.