News Release

South Rim Fire response update

Date: July 24, 2025

MONTROSE, Colo. – The South Rim Wildfire, which was ignited by lightning strikes on July 10, 2025, remains active within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The park is coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to manage fire activity and to assess potential post-fire impacts. The park remains closed to visitors until further notice. 

At this time, drinking water supplies have not been directly impacted by the fire. Starting July 21, a team of Department of the Interior and US Forest Service hydrologists and soil scientists began conducting rapid assessments to evaluate risks such as sedimentation and debris flow that could impact water quality.

Once conditions allow, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team will be deployed to evaluate post-fire threats including flooding, debris flows, hazardous materials, cultural and historic sites, and hazard trees, as well as impacts to vegetation, wildlife, and recreation. The BAER team includes specialists from the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Weather Service, and U.S. Forest Service. The National Park Service will share findings and any recommended treatments as they become available. 

For updates on fire activity and response efforts, visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cobcp-south-rim. For updates on park operations, visit www.nps.gov/blca. 

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