Prescribed burning operations near the Poudre Canyon on Thursday and Friday

The Arapahoe/Roosevelt National Forest is conducting the Salt Cabin prescribed burn on Thursday and Friday. This project is located just south of Highway 14, southwest of Rustic. 500 acres are expected to be ignited on Thursday, with an additional 100 acres on Friday. Information about this project, including a map of the location, can be found on the Prescribed Fire Map via the link above.

Smoke is likely to be visible from areas within the Poudre Canyon between Stove Prairie and Rustic, as well as other locations in this area. 

Public health impacts are expected to remain minimal, however light to moderate smoke may be encountered in the vicinity of this operation. Overnight, smoke from smoldering fuels may follow drainages in the area of Kelly Flats and into the Poudre Canyon.

If smoke is present in your area, consider taking precautions to protect your health, particularly if you are sensitive to particulate pollution including smoke.

Another broadcast burn at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge

The US Fish and Wildlife Service plan on burning a little over 350 acres on Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge in north Denver. Smoke will again be visible for surrounding areas. Smoke is expected to move from northeast to southwest once ignitions get started at approximately 10:00am MST. Although most of the smoke is expected to remain aloft, some brief periods of light to moderate smoke will be possible for some areas southwest of the Arsenal, including the Commerce City area. When smoke is present, please take steps to protect your health.

Broadcast burn scheduled Wednesday at Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning on conducting a controlled burn on Wednesday at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in the northern part of the Denver metro area. Ignitions are expected to begin around 10am with burn operations likely being completed by 4pm.

Smoke will be visible in areas bordering the refuge, but may also be seen in surrounding areas including along Interstate 70 in northern Denver and on Pena Boulevard if you are headed out to Denver International Airport. Although public health impacts from smoke are unlikely, brief periods of light to moderate smoke will be possible for downwind locations. For most of the operation, smoke is likely to move north and northwest of the refuge.

The red dot indicates the rough location of planned burn operations Wednesday at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

Pockets of heavy smoke southeast of Red Feather Lakes

 Heavy smoke has again been observed this morning in areas to the southeast of weekend burn operations at Red Feather Lakes. Please limit time outdoors in these areas, if possible. The good news is that smoke levels should drop dramatically by late morning with good air quality anticipated Tuesday afternoon. Additionally, smoke levels this morning are considerably less than at this time yesterday. So continued improvement is expected for the rest of this week.

Unhealthy smoke levels recorded Tuesday morning at one air quality monitor southeast of Red Feather Lakes. Map and data are available at fire.airnow.gov

Prescribed burns continue across the state with smoke impacts possible

Autumn is a good time of year for prescribed burn projects to be accomplished across Colorado due to favorable weather and fuel conditions.  Upcoming burn projects across the state can always be viewed on the CDPHE prescribed fire map.  One large landscape burn that was conducted this past weekend was the Magic Feather burn in the Red Feather Lakes area of Larimer County. Information on this project and others can be found on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest website and Facebook page.

Heavy smoke was recorded by air quality monitoring for several hours Monday morning, especially in areas just to the south and southeast of Red Feather Lakes. This could again be the case Tuesday morning depending on how much smoldering is taking place. If you reside in this area, please close your windows before heading off to sleep Monday night. Limiting time outside until approximately 10am Tuesday morning, if possible, is recommended. If you do need to spend time outdoors while smoke is present, please take actions to protect your health by visiting CDPHE's Wood smoke and your health webpage.

Prescribed burning taking place Monday at Bear Creek Lake Park

West Metro Fire Rescue is planning to conduct a prescribed fire on 10-12-2026 at Bear Creek Lake Park, in Lakewood, CO. This operation will treat 120 acres of grassland, near C-470 and Highway 285. Smoke from this operation will be visible from locations in western, southern, and southwestern portions of the Denver Metro area, including Lakewood, Morrison, and Indian Hills. This operation may continue on Tuesday, 10-13-26.

Short video of ignition taking place at Bear Creek Lake Park. Video shows firefighters monitoring the controlled burn, with smoke rising and dissipating from the burn site. 

Smoke is expected to loft away from the surface and dissipate following completion of the burn, however light to moderate smoke may be present in areas adjacent to this operation. If you are sensitive to fine particulate matter, including smoke, precautionary actions will help to reduce potential impacts.

Prescribed burning taking place on Friday

Weather and atmospheric conditions continue to be favorable for prescribed burning in many locations in Colorado on Friday. Several agencies intend to conduct burning operations. The image below, shows the CDPHE Prescribed Fire Map, which can be accessed through the tab at the top of this page.

Map of planned prescribed burn locations in Colorado on Friday, 10/9/26. Table below map shows additional information about each project.

Burns planned on Friday include continued operations near Woodland Park and Rampart Reservoir, as well as additional projects in western Colorado.

Smoke may be visible in areas near these operations. Please refer to the Prescribed Fire Map for information on each project, and refer to the Wood smoke and your health page for ways to avoid or reduce impacts from smoke.

Prescribed burn near Rampart Reservoir Thursday

Conditions have become favorable for conducting broadcast burns across much of Colorado. On Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service is planning a 300-400 acre burn within the Pike-San Isabel National Forest near Rampart Reservoir. Ignitions are anticipated to start at approximately 10 am MDT.

Map of broadcast burn units surrounding Rampart Reservoir

Smoke will likely be visible today in Woodland Park and along Highway 24 in Green Mountain Falls and Cascade.  Additionally, smoke might be visible east of the burn on the Interstate 25 corridor between Monument and Colorado Springs.

Smoke will likely carry to the northeast of the burn and remain aloft through this afternoon. However, it's not out of the question that some smoke could occasionally drift downward to the surface near Monument, Woodmoor, and Gleneagle. Moderate to heavy smoke will be more likely overnight tonight and into tomorrow morning in the Rampart Reservoir area. It's also possible some smoke could drain down to the east into the US Air Force Academy for Friday morning.

Please visit the Pike-San Isabel National Forest webpage for more information on the various prescribed fire projects they will be conducting.  Also visit the wood smoke and your health webpage and the CDPHE prescribed fire map for additional information that can help you protect your health from wood smoke.

Fire in Weld County producing smoke, affecting Greeley

A fire in Weld County is producing significant amounts of smoke, and has created hazy, smoky conditions in areas near Greeley. Monitors are showing a rapid rise in fine particulate concentrations in Greeley and Evans. Folks in these areas should remain aware of potential health impacts due to smoke.

If you are sensitive to smoke, remaining indoors with the windows closed and use of air cleaners is recommended if possible. Reducing heavy physical exertion, especially outdoors, can also help to reduce potential health impacts. More information on health considerations can be found on the CDPHE wildfire smoke and health page.

Increasing chances of precipitation and shifting winds are expected to improve conditions Friday afternoon. As of this writing (~11 am Friday, 9/18/26) conditions do not yet meet criteria for the issuance of an Air Quality Health Advisory. 

We will continue to watch closely to monitor air quality conditions and will follow with information and any Advisories if conditions warrant.

Smoke from out of state affecting western Colorado

The Slough Canyon Fire in eastern Utah was very active on Saturday and produced significant amounts of smoke. Initial expectations were that the majority of smoke would be carried to the north-northeast and have little effect on Colorado air quality. On Sunday morning, observations show that smoke moved into the Grand Valley and bumped PM2.5 (smoke) concentrations into the low Moderate category in Grand Junction.

Map showing the location of the Slough Canyon Fire in eastern Utah, northwest of Grand Junction, CO. Yellow dots show Moderate air quality on particulate monitors in areas of the Grand Valley. Image courtesy of EPA's Fire and Smoke Map.

Smoke may lift as atmospheric mixing increases during daytime hours, and concentrations may decrease. Smoke may also be transported to other areas of Colorado. Smoke is expected to remain pretty light, only reaching the Moderate category in the current outlook period. Hazy skies and light concentrations of smoke may be seen in Mesa, Rio Blanco, and Moffat Counties on Sunday and Monday.

We will keep a close eye on this fire and revise expectations if the situation changes.

Wildfire smoke in Colorado expected to remain minimal

In our last post we noted a possibility that smoke from out-of-state wildfires may be moving into our region this evening. We want to provide an updated outlook for this scenario. Current modeling shows that a ridge of high pressure is building in the southwestern U.S. This will route the upper level winds that are carrying the majority of smoke to our north. While we cannot rule out a bit of haze, particularly in areas of northeastern Colorado, we expect very little smoke to reach the surface. This trend appears to last at least into this weekend.

Until all fires are contained and smoke production ceases, the potential for smoke to again invade our area will remain. However for now this is not an immediate concern.

Colorado all clear at the moment

No new developments with wildfire smoke across Colorado as the workweek gets started. Heavy smoke remains bottled up across the Pacific Northwest while ample moisture in Colorado is stopping any development or intensification of local wildfires. There is a possibility for some out-of-state smoke to move into northeastern Colorado (including the Denver/Boulder/Ft. Collins urban corridor) late Wednesday into early Thursday. However, still plenty of uncertainty with that scenario so we will continue to monitor the situation over the next few days.

Smoke remaining minimal in Colorado, for now

We have seen improved air quality here in Colorado due to decreased fire behavior from in-state fires, and less transport of smoke from out-of-state. We are quite pleased to have this break from the smoke. However, we want to remain aware of the conditions that could affect us, even if this is not expected to happen immediately.

Wildfires continue to burn in the Pacific Northwest, with smoke and poor air quality present in many areas of  Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. This smoke is being carried eastward, and much of it is not reaching the surface.

Map of the western United States showing Good to Moderate air quality in many areas of the Rocky Mountains. Poor air quality due to smoke continues in the northwestern U.S. Image courtesy of EPA's Fire and Smoke Map.

Weather models indicate that the current pattern that is keeping smoke to the north of Colorado will continue through the weekend and into next week. There are some indications that the pattern may shift by mid-to-late next week, and smoke may return to our area. It is too soon to put much confidence into this possibility, but we always seek to be aware, and keep you informed.

We will continue to monitor smoke conditions with an eye on the potential for these changes in Colorado. We will update information here as things develop.

Smoke gradually decreasing in most areas

Some promising trends are in the forecast as we close out the weekend. As stated in yesterday's post (see below), the upper level winds are transporting the heaviest smoke to the north of Colorado. Additionally, afternoon showers and thunderstorms are starting to increase with monsoonal moisture being pumped into the state. This combination will result in particle pollution levels continuing to gradually decrease. Currently, a light haze hangs over most of the state with moderate levels of particle pollution (PM2.5).

Air quality monitors showing moderate levels of particle pollution throughout Colorado. Image and data courtesy of EPA's Fire and Smoke Map

There are a few areas that may receive a little heavier smoke from time to time. Local fires such as the Gold Mountain fire and the Elk fire still have hot spots and will produce locally heavy smoke at times. The I-25 urban corridor near Denver, Boulder, and Ft. Collins is still under an advisory for both ozone and smoke until 4pm Sunday, but smoke levels are also decreasing in this area. 

Two other areas could also get some quick hits of heavier smoke from upwind fires over the next day or two. These include the northeastern plains of Colorado and parts of far west-central and southwestern Colorado. This is something to keep in mind around Julesburg, Ft. Morgan, Grand Junction, Montrose, and Durango.

Slow improvement continues for the Western Slope

500 millibar winds are transporting heavier smoke in the northwestern United States mostly to the north of Colorado. Image courtesy of the NOAA Storm Prediction Center

The upper level winds over the western United States continue to shift as an upper level high pressure system builds over the desert southwest. The result is less smoke moving into western Colorado from fires to the west and northwest. All air quality advisories west of the Continental Divide will be allowed to expire at 9am Saturday morning.

This does not mean that the air is squeaky clean. Light to moderate levels of smoke remain which could still cause some discomfort, including irritated eyes, nose, and throat. For those that suffer from heart or lung ailments, it is still probably a good idea to take it easy this weekend. The building heat across western Colorado will also be a concern with afternoon temperatures topping 100 degrees in many areas, including Grand Junction.

There will be some areas in western Colorado that will see some locally heavier smoke. This is true in areas near the Elk fire and the Gold Mountain fire. The worst of the smoke will be during the early morning hours along Highway 550 from Ridgway north to Montrose, Highway 149 north of Lake City, and Highway 50 near Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County.

Eastern Colorado is also seeing levels of mostly light smoke which is currently in the "Moderate" category. One area that could see an increase in smoke over the next 24 hours is northeastern Colorado. This includes the northern Front Range region of Denver, Boulder, and Ft. Collins. It also includes the adjacent plains to the east, where smoke levels could increase for areas to the east of Interstate 25 and to the north of Interstate 70. This area includes Greeley, Fort Morgan, Julesburg, Burlington, and Limon.

There is still some uncertainty to the timing and amount of smoke that might impact this large area, so no additional advisories are being issued at this time. We will be monitoring the situation throughout the weekend and will post here if a new advisory is issued. Please keep in mind that the northern Front Range region remains under an Action Day for Multiple Pollutants until at least 4pm Saturday as the combination of smoke and high ozone continues to cause health concerns along the I-25 urban corridor.

 

Smoke subsides for some in the state, effects continue elsewhere

Smoke is still in the picture on Friday, but the Air Quality Health Advisory area is smaller than yesterday. Some areas in Colorado will see improved air quality today, but smoke from fires in-state and to our north will impact northern Colorado, southwest Colorado, and the northern Front Range.

What's driving this change? A shift in the upper- level winds. Earlier this week, upper-level winds from the west brought smoke into Colorado from Utah and Nevada. Today, the upper-level winds have shifted, coming out of the northwest. So today, the smoke from the Pacific Northwest will hit northern Colorado, but many counties on the Western Slope are getting a break.

Air Quality Alerts remain in effect for some parts of Colorado, but the area has shrunk significantly since yesterday.

In northern Colorado, smoke from out-of-state fires is still lingering. A blanket of heavy smoke hangs over the northwest corner of the United States, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Colorado is on the southeastern edge of this smoke, so northern counties in Colorado are seeing the impacts. 

Heavy smoke is impacting much of the northwest. Image from the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

In the Northern Front Range, smoke from out-of-state fires is sticking around. Moderate smoke and haze are possible in Fort Collins, Greeley, and the Denver Metro area today. High ozone is also expected on Friday afternoon, so take precautions if you are sensitive to smoke or ozone.

In southwestern Colorado, the Elk Fire, Gold Mountain Fire, and Rio Blanco Fire are producing smoke. Moderate to heavy smoke is possible on Friday and Saturday morning.  An Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect.

Finally, the 310 Fire is burning in Garfield County, near Parachute. We do not expect heavy smoke from this fire today, but we will update the blog if that changes.

If smoke is heavy in your area, take steps to limit your exposure and protect your health if possible.

Areas of smoke remaining on Thursday with a slight shift

Wildfire smoke will remain in the conversation for many areas of Colorado on Thursday and Friday. There is a bit of difference between the source of smoke for different areas, yet the outcome is much the same. Let's go through it all.

Western and southwestern Colorado will continue to receive smoke from fires in Utah and Nevada. The Elk and Rio Blanco fires in Colorado will also add smoke to the mix. All of these fires remain active, with hot, dry, and breezy weather, so smoke will remain a concern.

Northwestern and central Colorado, the Front Range, and portions of the eastern plains will receive smoke transported from the northwestern US. Many fires continue to burn in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest, sending smoke toward Colorado. Smoke will follow upper level winds into our area, and will descend to the surface. The locations that will see the most surface smoke depends on influences from terrain and vertical mixing of the atmosphere. This pattern shifts each day, so the footprint of the advisory has changed on Thursday. El Paso and Pueblo Counties were removed from the Smoke Advisory, and Morgan County was added.

Map of fire incidents from InciWeb, the national fire incident information system. Map shows the multitude of fires that may affect Colorado air quality. Note: Not all incidents shown may be active.

This does not mean that other areas of Colorado will be smoke-free. We expect hazy skies and light to moderate levels of smoke to be present in all areas of the state.

We encourage everyone statewide to remain aware of the potential for quickly changing levels of smoke, especially in areas covered by advisories and alerts. Reduce heavy physical exertion if possible, and be prepared to take actions to reduce health impacts due to smoke.

We will end this post with a glimmer of hope, and a bit of caution. The large scale weather pattern is expected to shift, beginning on Friday. This will push smoke from upwind states further north, and may reduce impacts in some areas of Colorado. We hope that this change brings some relief from the impacts from smoke. Caution remains in this message because this shift in weather will bring increasing temperatures back to Colorado. Hot and dry weather may pose its own risks to fire behavior and public health.

Hang in there folks. We will keep updates coming so you can stay informed.

Potential for heavy smoke continues for western and central Colorado, with some improvement for the eastern plains

Air quality remains a concern across large parts of Colorado. It's a complex scenario so let's move from west to east across the state.

Western and central Colorado are seeing a wide variety of air quality conditions Wednesday morning. There is somewhat heavy smoke in parts of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. This is especially true in some of the higher terrain to the west and southwest of Telluride and Silverton. Lower smoke levels can be found further north in Grand Junction, Aspen and Steamboat Springs. However, the Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke will be extended for the entire Western Slope until at least 9am Thursday. Why is this, if some areas are currently seeing lower levels of smoke? 

First, wildfires to the west and northwest of Colorado remain very active. The satellite image below from yesterday afternoon shows massive smoke plumes in Idaho and Utah moving from west to east.

GeoColor satellite image Tuesday afternoon of smoke plumes to the west of Colorado. Satellite image courtesy of Colorado State University's CIRA Slider

Some of the smoke from those plumes yesterday is likely over Colorado this morning. That smoke could mix down to the surface over central and western Colorado by this afternoon. Additionally, those fires are likely to be active again today and send more smoke in the direction of Colorado.

Second, red flag warnings are in effect today for large sections of central and western Colorado. If new wildfires start today, that will add even more smoke to the atmosphere. We also need to keep an eye on ongoing wildfires across the state. These include the Elk fire north of Lake City, the Rio Blanco fire south of Pagosa Springs, and the Indian Creek fire near Rabbit Ears Pass between Kremmling and Walden. The Elk and Indian Creek fires are especially concerning today as both lie within the red flag warning zone.

Further east, the Interstate 25 corridor is also seeing elevated levels of particle pollution Wednesday morning. This includes Ft. Collins southward through Denver and Colorado Springs to Pueblo. We are not expecting additional smoke in these areas today, but there is enough smoke currently along with normal urban pollution to keep all of these areas under an advisory today. Please keep in mind that along with particle pollution, high ozone will also likely be an issue today around the Denver metro area, Boulder, Longmont, Greeley, and Ft. Collins.

Webcam image looking west from Monument Hill/Kelly Air Park between Denver and Colorado Springs. Webcam image courtesy of Federal Aviation Administration WeatherCams

The one area removed from yesterday's advisory is the eastern plains. This includes most areas to the east of Interstate 25. Although we are not expecting see rapid improvement in air quality across the plains today, current smoke levels are in the moderate category and we are not anticipating any additional smoke through at least tomorrow morning.  The latest county advisory map of Colorado is below.

Map of current air quality advisories in Colorado

Colorado fires flaring up

The Elk fire to the north of Lake City in northern Hinsdale County has flared up on Tuesday with the increasingly hot and dry weather conditions. This entire area is already under an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke due to smoke being transported from outside of Colorado (see this morning's blog post below for more information).  But the smoke from this fire will only make air quality worse in locations near the fire. 

Downwind smoke impacts could be felt to the east of the fire in northern parts of the San Luis Valley, including Saguache. Overnight, smoke could get heavy to the north of Lake City along Highway 149.

Meanwhile, the Rio Blanco fire to the south of Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County is also showing an increase in activity. This fire is a bit more isolated, so public health impacts will likely be more limited to areas in very close vicinity to the fire. One thing to keep in mind is that not only particle pollution is elevated in Archuleta County. Ozone is pretty high too, so an advisory for multiple pollutants has been issued for both Archuleta and La Plata counties, including the Southern Ute reservation.

Band 7 shortwave satellite image of the Elk and Rio Blanco fires in southwestern Colorado. CIRA slider image courtesy of Colorado State University

Smoke to affect all areas of Colorado on Tuesday and Wednesday

Wildfire smoke from several western states will affect air quality in Colorado on Tuesday and into Wednesday. An Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke has been issued for all counties in Colorado.

The reason that the advisory covers such a large area is that there are several ways that smoke is moving into our state. Fires in Utah and Nevada are producing large plumes that are moving east. This smoke is now in western areas of Colorado, and will move further south and east on Tuesday. These fires were very active on Monday. Large columns of smoke rising into the atmosphere are seen on the left side of the image below. 

Late in the day on Monday, a cold front pushed additional smoke into eastern and central Colorado. This is seen in the upper right areas of the image below.

Satellite image of smoke arriving in Colorado at 7 pm MDT on Monday August 3, 2026. Transport is from the west due to fires in Utah and Nevada, and from the northeast due to fires in several upwind states. Image courtesy CSU/CIRA/NOAA.

As all of this smoke moves through our region, we expect levels of fine particulates to create air quality impacts in all areas of Colorado. Concentrations will likely differ in time and place. However we want to stress that the potential for smoke will be present across all of Colorado on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. Please remain aware of air quality conditions in your area, and take steps to reduce health impacts.

Air Quality Health Advisory has been expanded

 

An Aerosol Optical Depth image reveals heavy smoke (red shading) in the atmosphere over large sections of Colorado

Wildfire smoke from multiple fires across the western United States is having big air quality impacts in Colorado. The Air Quality Health Advisory that was issued Monday morning for several counties has been expanded. In addition to the communities we mentioned in the last blog post below, places like Rifle, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Canon City, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo will also be impacted by periods of moderate to heavy smoke. Please take action to protect your health from wildfire smoke.

The northern Front Range region will not be spared. A cold front is pushing towards northeastern Colorado. That cold front will likely bring smoke with it from Wyoming and western Nebraska. Be prepared for smoke to increase again tonight in Greeley, Ft. Collins and southward into the Denver metro area. Along with increased particle pollution, the smoke could also enhance ozone across the northern Front Range during the afternoons and evenings.

Heavier smoke (orange and red dots) will move southward into Colorado Monday night with a cold front. Map courtesy of the EPA's Fire and Smoke Map

The upper level winds will likely continue to transport smoke in the direction of Colorado over the next few days, so please remain alert to rapidly changing air quality conditions in your area.

Starting the week with wildfire smoke across parts of northern Colorado

Wildfire smoke has made a return after a few weeks of relatively good air quality across northwestern Colorado. Elevated levels of fine particulate matter can be found Monday morning in Craig, Steamboat Springs, Walden and Granby. Some smoke has even spread as far east as northern parts of the Front Range region, including Ft. Collins and Boulder.  An Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued for all of these areas through 9am Tuesday morning.

Counties currently under an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke, shaded dark grey. The map and advisory information can be found at the CDPHE air quality webpage

Several wildfires in Nevada and Utah are the origin of this smoke. However, an additional dose of wildfire smoke may arrive later this afternoon and evening from the north as many fires also remain active across the northwestern United States. With the upper level winds shifting over the next 24 hours, it is possible that Colorado could be contending with a prolonged stretch of wildfire smoke conditions this week. Please continue to follow the blog as the outlook could change rapidly over the next few days.

Smoke returning to Colorado heading into the weekend

After a welcome break from the many smoke impacts we saw this month, smoke from wildfires will begin to affect Colorado once again. There will be widely varying conditions found throughout the state, so let's take a bit of a tour to discuss potential impacts.

The only fire in Colorado that is producing notable amounts of smoke is the Rio Blanco Fire in southern Archuleta County, south of Pagosa Springs. This fire has produced significant plumes of smoke at times, yet much of the smoke has lifted away from the surface during daytime hours. Overnight, smoke appears to follow drainages in this area. Smoke may move along Rio Blanco and County Road 335, moving southwest toward the Southern Ute Reservation. No Advisory has been issued for this area. We will watch the situation closely and provide updates. We urge folks in this area to remain aware of air quality conditions, and take action to avoid or reduce impacts if smoke is present in your location.

Map showing the location of the Rio Blanco Fire in southwest Colorado. Image courtesy of InciWeb.

Elsewhere, smoke from fires outside of Colorado are having mild to moderate impacts. Smoke from fires in the Pacific Northwest has followed winds in the upper atmosphere into northeastern Colorado, including the Front Range. Surface concentrations have been limited, only reaching Moderate on the AQI scale. This is expected to continue on Friday and into the weekend. However, folks in eastern Colorado will notice hazy skies and light to moderate levels of fine particulates at times.

Satellite image showing smoke over Colorado at 7 pm MDT on Thursday July 30, 2026. Most of the smoke in this image remains aloft and is not creating significant surface impacts. Image courtesy CIRA/CSU/NOAA.

On the western slope of Colorado a similar story may unfold as smoke from fires in Utah and Nevada head into our state. Surface observations have shown only light concentrations of smoke so far. Hazy skies are likely and there is potential for particulate concentrations to increase. Moderate levels of smoke are possible if these fires remain active and atmospheric conditions bring smoke into our state.

For now, smoke conditions in Colorado are not expected to reach the level of concern that was present in early and mid July. If this changes, we will provide more information here, and may issue advisories for areas that are affected. We always want to keep everyone informed of current conditions and expectations so you can make appropriate decisions for your health, in your location.

Improved smoke conditions for Wednesday

Today, wildfire smoke is expected to be minimal across Colorado. This includes locations near the Aspen Acres Fire, which saw heavy smoke earlier this week. Overnight, rain helped to clear the smoke. For Wednesday and Thursday, Good to Moderate air quality is expected in Beulah, Rye, Colorado City, and Pueblo.

Yesterday, there were widespread rain showers on the Western Slope. The fires burning in western Colorado- Elk, Gold Mountain, Willow, and Fishhook- did not grow significantly on Tuesday. Today, these fires are not expected to produce heavy smoke. Expect Good to Moderate air quality today in locations near these fires.

Here's what's coming next. This afternoon, rain is expected across the Western Slope. Eastern Colorado will start to see showers late Wednesday evening into Thursday. Another dose of rain is coming on Thursday. Rainy weather will continue to clear out residual smoke and limit fire growth this week. 

New wildfire start in northwestern Colorado

A new fire has emerged in Moffat County, approximately 12 miles southwest of Craig, CO. The Yampa Fire (also called the Fuhr Gulch Fire) is estimated to be between 100-500 acres. Smoke from this fire may be visible along Highway 13 between Axial and Craig, along Highway 40 west of Craig, as well as from other locations in this area. Smoke may settle in low lying terrain along the Yampa River overnight Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Remain aware of air quality conditions if in this area, and take action to protect your health if smoke becomes thick in your location.

Tuesday update for Aspen Acres smoke

 Smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire will continue on Tuesday, but changes will arrive later this week.

This morning, smoke is heavy in Rye, Colorado City, and Beulah. An Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect for these locations until 9 am Wednesday. However, we are tracking changes that may improve the smoke situation this week.

Tuesday afternoon, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms near the fire. As the week goes on, the chance for thunderstorms and measurable rain increases. Gusty winds from these storms may help to clear out smoke, while rain could slow fire growth. In other words, air quality might improve throughout this week. As these storms roll through, we will update the blog with any air quality changes.

Smoke has arrived to northeastern Colorado

 

A hazy Denver skyline Tuesday morning via the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division webcam

Canadian wildfire smoke has increased particle pollution levels all across northeastern Colorado Tuesday morning. Although the smoke is not nearly as heavy as what was experienced across the eastern United States last week, it is noticeable with poor visibility throughout the region.

Although smoke levels are not high enough for an advisory at this time, some health impacts may be felt today including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. You will certainly want to take it easy today if you suffer from asthma or other lung ailments. Please keep in mind that an Ozone Action Day Alert is also in effect today for the northern Front Range region (Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins, Greeley, and surrounding areas). So health impacts could be further increased in those areas.

Smoke levels could fluctuate across northeastern Colorado through Wednesday, but are not expected to get much worse than current conditions.

 

Canadian wildfire smoke possible in northeastern Colorado on Tuesday

Lighter shades of blue over North and South Dakota denote particle pollution (smoke) that may move into northeastern Colorado starting late Monday night. Image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's AerosolWatch

Canadian wildfires made a lot of headlines last week with very heavy smoke across the eastern United States. Although Colorado is not expecting anything that bad, some smoke will be possible starting late Monday night across the northeastern corner of the state. As northeasterly winds increase, that smoke is expected to spread to the south and west. Increasing smoke will be possible by Tuesday morning across the eastern plains of Colorado (mostly along and north of Interstate 70), including Julesburg, Ft. Morgan, and Burlington. The Northern Front Range urban corridor could also have hazy skies by Tuesday morning, including Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Ft. Collins and surrounding areas.

Although we are not anticipating unhealthy levels of smoke at this time, the smoke could certainly be noticeable with poor visibility and some public health impacts. The Denver/Northern Front Range area has been contending with high ozone for the past several days. The addition of particle pollution from smoke could increase some health symptoms. This is especially true for those with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. Please take it a bit slower on Tuesday and be prepared to protect your health if air quality worsens in your area.

Air quality advisory remains in effect near the Aspen Acres fire

A smoke plume coming off the Aspen Acres fire Monday morning. Image courtesy of RAMMB/CIRA at Colorado State University

Remaining hot and dry for Monday and Tuesday at the Aspen Acres fire where an Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect. Smoke remains a public health issue in the communities of Beulah, Colorado City, and Rye in southwestern Pueblo County. Heavy smoke in these areas is most likely during the mornings. Keep an eye on air quality monitors in this area so you can go outside at times where the smoke is not quite as heavy. 

Downwind smoke impacts will also be possible starting Monday afternoon for locations to the west of the fire. Stay alert to quickly changing air quality conditions in Westcliffe today. Some smoke may even get as far west as the San Luis Valley, including Alamosa.

One other fire that is producing periods of heavy smoke is the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville. Smoke from this fire is mostly a problem during the mornings, particularly in southern parts of Lake County. So if you reside in the Twin Lakes area, it's likely a good idea to close your windows before you go to bed at night and limit your time outdoors during the mornings. If possible, delay outside time until the afternoons when the smoke has had time to clear.

Aspen Acres Fire once again producing large amounts of smoke

The Aspen Acres fire in southern Colorado is once again producing large amounts of smoke. Moderate to heavy concentrations of smoke are expected in areas near active portions of the fire. The heaviest impacts are expected in Custer County and southwestern portions of Pueblo County overnight Sunday and into Monday morning. An Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke has been issued for this area.

Satellite image showing the location of the Aspen Acres fire. The red dot in the center of the image indicates the most active parts of the fire. Image courtesy of CIRA/CSU/NOAA.

If smoke becomes thick in your area, take measures to protect your health.

Air quality advisories for smoke will expire on Friday, intermittent smoke will linger

Over the last couple of days the overall impacts from smoke have decreased. Areas directly near and below fires in Colorado have seen smoke settling in low lying terrain overnight and in the early mornings. However smoke has dissipated during the midday and afternoon periods. Because of these improvements, the Air Quality Health Advisories for Wildfire Smoke will be allowed to expire at 9 am on Friday.

With this said, we acknowledge that the fires continue to burn, and smoke is likely to be found in some areas at some times. Please also keep in mind that folks who have been breathing smoke for days may have lingering health impacts due to this exposure. While the improvements in air quality and the expiry of Advisories is positive and welcome news, we urge everyone to remain cautious with heavy physical exertion, and continue to be aware of changing conditions.

We will keep a close watch on weather conditions and fire activity, and will re-issue advisories if we see increases in smoke that support those alerts. Stay tuned for updated information here, and find some time to enjoy the current improvements in air quality.

Smoke impacts continue in Colorado

The wildfires in Colorado will continue to cause air quality issues in areas of Colorado. As in recent days, weather and fire activity will shift where impacts from smoke are most significant.

Two Advisories remain in effect on Thursday and into Friday morning covering areas near the Gold Mountain and Elk Fires in southwest Colorado, and the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County. 

Out west, smoke affects several communities. The heaviest impacts are in Ouray, San Juan, and Hinsdale Counties. In particular, smoke drains into valleys and low lying terrain during overnight hours spiking concentrations in Lake City, Ouray, Ridgeway, Colona, and Cimmaron. Notable impacts have also been seen in surrounding areas including Montrose, Telluride, Ouray, and others. These areas have shown more variability in the concentration and duration of smoke. Thunderstorms will again be possible on Thursday and can produce gusty and erratic winds that can cause smoke to move rapidly in unpredictable directions.

Near the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County, significant amounts of smoke have been experienced in the communities of Beulah and Rye, along with areas on the south and west sides of this fire. Folks in southwestern Pueblo County should keep alert to conditions in their area and remain prepared to respond to smoky conditions to reduce potential health impacts.

Map showing active wildfire incidents in Colorado reported by InciWeb.

While the above mentioned incidents are those that are under Advisories, other fires in Colorado should not be ignored. The Willow Fire in Lake County, the Fishhook Fire in Routt County, and the Ferris Fire in Dolores County are still burning and have potential to create air quality concerns. We continue to watch all areas closely and will issue further alerts and communication if they become needed.

Throughout Colorado, we encourage everyone to stay alert, stay safe, and stay tuned for more updates.

Advisory on the Gold Mountain and Elk fires expanded for Wednesday

Smoke from the Gold Mountain and Elk wildfires in southwestern Colorado. Satellite image courtesy of slider.cira.colostate.edu

It was an active day for a few of the wildfires in southwestern Colorado on Tuesday. The Gold Mountain fire in Ouray County was impacted by heavy thunderstorms. The thunderstorms sent smoke in chaotic, unpredictable directions.  The towns of Ouray and Telluride both got hit by smoke plumes Tuesday afternoon and evening. Meanwhile the Elk fire largely avoided thunderstorms, but did made a significant "run" which increased its size. Smoke from the Elk fire directly impacted the Lake City area with very heavy smoke late Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Thunderstorms will once again be possible over both of these fires on Wednesday. Additionally, the prevailing transport winds on Wednesday will push smoke in a general north to south direction. With all of this information, the air quality health advisory has been expanded to includes areas to the south of the fires. This will include Hinsdale, San Juan, and eastern San Miguel counties. Heads up to rapidly changing air quality conditions on Wednesday in Telluride, Silverton, and Lake City. Please be prepared to protect your health from wildfire smoke.

In addition to these areas south of the fires, to the north we continue to see heavy smoke draining from the fires during the morning hours. Highway 550 from Ridgway northward to Montrose and even as far north as Delta will continue to receive this morning dose of smoke. If possible, hold off on spending time outside in these areas until the afternoon when the smoke has had time to clear.

Meanwhile, the Aspen Acres fire in Pueblo County has seen a slight decrease in fire activity. Air quality is not quite as bad Wednesday morning in the communities of Colorado City and Rye in southwestern Pueblo County. However, this fire continues to have the potential to intensify again. The air quality health advisory will remain in effect for southwestern Pueblo County for the time being.

Other fires we are watching include the Fishhook fire in Routt County to the southeast of Steamboat Springs, the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville, and the Ferris fire in Dolores County. None of these fires at the moment are producing the type of heavy, long duration smoke that would trigger an advisory. However, any of these fires have the capability of producing brief periods of heavy smoke. Please remain alert to the potential for air quality to change quickly.

Smoke continues Tuesday

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire and Aspen Acres Fire will continue to impact Colorado today. Air Quality Health Advisories remain in effect near the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire.

Aspen Acres Fire 

Beulah is finally getting a break. Smoke cleared out Monday evening, and folks woke up to Good air quality this morning. This isn't the end of smoke for Beulah- smoke is likely to pool in the valley again tonight. An Air Quality Health Advisory is still in effect for southwest Pueblo County. Rye, Colorado City, and Beulah will see moderate to heavy smoke throughout Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Gold Mountain Fire

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire continues to pool along Highway 550. On Monday afternoon, thunderstorms cleared some of the smoke. However, moderate to heavy smoke is still possible today. Locations along Highway 550, as far north as Delta, are likely to see smoke today. Additionally, this fire is spreading northward, so locations along Highway 50 may also start to see smoke. We are monitoring this fire and will update the blog if the situation changes.

Fishhook Fire

We are also monitoring the Fishhook Fire in Routt County. Folks near the fire may notice haze and moderate smoke. We are tracking changes and will issue an Air Quality Health Advisory if the smoke worsens.

Willow Fire

Smoke from the Willow Fire continues for south-central Colorado. Twin Lakes saw heavy smoke this morning, but smoke is expected to clear this afternoon. Light to moderate smoke is possible in Leadville, Twin Lakes, and Buena Vista today.

Smoke persists in areas near wildfires

There are still several wildfires burning in Colorado as the hot and dry weather conditions continue for the start of the week. One of those fires is the Aspen Acres fire which is producing heavy smoke impacts in the southwestern part of Pueblo County. 

The Aspen Acres fire shaded in dark red with surrounding air quality monitors (circles) indicating moderate to heavy smoke. Map courtesy of fire.airnow.gov

A few communites are receiving moderate to very heavy smoke at times from the Aspen Acres fire. These include Beulah, Rye and Colorado City. Expect smoke to be at its worst during the morning hours in these areas.

The Gold Mountain fire is located in Ouray County east of Highway 550 between Ouray and Ridgway. This fire has gradually spread to the east over the past few days with heavy morning smoke impacts to the northwest of the fire. Expect moderate to heavy smoke between Ridgway and Montrose during the mornings, including the communities of Eldredge, Colona, and Vernal. The newer Elk fire just to the north of the Gold Mountain fire could contribute additional smoke to these same areas over the next 24 hours.

There are several other fires around the state, including the Willow fire near Leadville, Fishhook fire near Steamboat Springs, and the Ferris fire in Dolores County. Although there are no current advisories in the vicinity of these fires, conditions can change rapidly so please remain on the alert to the air quality in your area. Also be aware that record breaking heat is possible across Colorado early this week, so please take action to protect your health from extreme heat. This is especially true if you are also in an area where air quality is a concern.

Sunday smoke update

 The Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires are still the focus for today's smoke.

Near the Aspen Acres Fire, an Air Quality Health Advisory is in effect for southwest Pueblo County. Today will be similar to yesterday. Air Quality is expected to remain Good in the City of Pueblo, but smoke will remain heavy for Beulah, Rye, and Colorado City.

The situation has changed slightly near the Gold Mountain Fire. The wind direction is expected to shift today, coming out of the south. Because of this wind shift, the advisory area has changed. Yesterday, heavy smoke was expected south of the fire, in San Juan and Hinsdale Counties. Today, the advisory only remains active in Montrose and Ouray Counties. Smoke will likely only impact areas close to the fire, and north of the fire.

Visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke map for real-time air quality data near you.

Smoke sticking around Saturday, but some see relief

 Air Quality Health Advisories are in effect until at least Sunday morning. But today, the heaviest smoke will be near the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires.

Smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire will mostly affect southwestern Pueblo County. Rye, Colorado City, and Beulah will see moderate to heavy smoke today. Overnight Saturday, heavy smoke is possible in Beulah. However, the city of Pueblo is getting some relief. Haze is visible in Pueblo this morning, but smoke is expected to stay in the upper atmosphere. 

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire is pooled along the Highway 550 corridor. Folks Montrose, Ridgway, Ouray, and Silverton woke up to heavy smoke this morning. In Hinsdale County, Lake City also had heavy smoke this morning. In these areas, moderate to heavy smoke is possible on Saturday and will last until at least Sunday morning. 

We are monitoring the situation for any changes today. Stay tuned to the blog for an update Sunday morning.

Friday smoke outlook

Two Air Quality Health Advisories remain in effect today. The biggest change today is that we've removed Fremont County from the advisory area. Otherwise, the advisory remains in effect until at least Saturday morning. 

This week, Colorado has gotten some rain, which has helped keep the fires from spreading. This weekend, a ridge of high pressure is moving in, bringing warm and dry weather to the state. Stay tuned to the blog for smoke updates throughout the weekend.

If there is smoke in your area, reduce your exposure and limit your activity. Also over the weekend, heat is a major factor in the forecast. Check the CDC's Heat Risk Map for information on your county's heat risk.

Local smoke impacts continue on Thursday

Fortunately there are no Red Flag Warnings currently in effect across Colorado. Last week the wildfires exploded due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions which also transported smoke long distances across the state. The current situation is different: hot temperatures, less wind, and more afternoon thunderstorms. The heavy smoke focus has shifted to areas in close vicinity to the fires.

Starting with the Willow fire in Lake County near Leadville, the short-term news is encouraging. Afternoon thunderstorms with plenty of cloud cover has decreased fire activity and smoke production. Air quality is either good or moderate this morning in Leadville southward to the Twin Lakes area. The air quality advisory for Lake County will be allowed to expire at 9am Thursday. However, it should be noted that the fire is neither contained or out yet. This means that conditions could deteriorate again, particuarly for the upcoming weekend as the weather heats up and dries out again. Stay tuned if you reside or will be travelling to the Leadville/Twin Lakes area this weekend.

The Aspen Acres fire remains active near the Pueblo/Custer county line and has produced heavy smoke for nearby areas. The town of Beulah has been particularly hard hit, and there is anticipation that the southern end of the fire could become more active in the next few days. Residents in Rye and Colorado City should prepare for worsening air quality conditions. An air quality health advisory will remain active for this area through at least Friday morning.

Heading to the southwestern part of the state, the Gold Mountain fire and the Ferris fire are both producing local impacts. Some of the heaviest smoke around the state Thursday morning is in areas to the north of the Gold Mountain fire in northern Ouray County and spreading into eastern Montrose County. The town of Montrose has been blanketed with smoke recently. Fortunately some relief did arrive yesterday, but it appears that there will still be some lingering smoke around during the mornings as long as the Gold Mountain fire remains active. This will also be the case for communities along Highway 550 south of Montrose to Ridgway Reservoir, including Eldredge, Colona, and Vernal.

Moderate to heavy smoke can also be expected near the Ferris fire, though fortunately it appears most of the heavy morning smoke is draining straight into McPhee Reservoir which minimizes public health impacts. Keep in mind that downwind smoke impacts will be possible to the east and southeast of both the Gold Mountain and Ferris fires Thursday afternoon and evening, so remain alert to rapidly changing air quality conditions today in Telluride, Silverton, and Lake City. An air quality health advisory will remain in effect through at least Friday morning for all of these areas in southwestern Colorado.

Hazy skies to the southwest of Pueblo Memorial Airport due to smoke from the Aspen Acres fire. Image courtesy of FAA Weathercams

Wednesday weather: changes coming for Colorado

After days of stagnant, smoky, dry conditions, changes are coming. By Wednesday afternoon, thunderstorms will develop across Colorado. Rain will help limit fire growth, and wind may help clear smoke from the air. Also, a shift in the upper level winds will decrease the amount of smoke that is transported to areas further away from the fires.

Air Quality Health Advisories remain in effect until at least Thursday morning. However, smoke is not expected to travel as far on Wednesday, and fewer areas are included in today's advisories. Only the counties closest to the fires are included. Moderate to heavy smoke is still possible in advisory areas. If smoke is heavy in your area, it's good to limit your exposure and take precautions to protect your health.

Air quality advisories are in effect, but for a much smaller area than yesterday.