While hundreds of firefighters battle the 16,000-acre Gold Mountain fire just two miles from Ouray, the mayor of the mountain town and several businesses there are touting its picture-perfect blue skies as the busy July 4 holiday weekend approaches.
The fire, which started on Saturday, doubled in size on Wednesday as hot, dry and windy conditions persisted on the Western Slope. But on the same day, Ouray Mayor Michael Underwood announced that the town is “open for business” and encouraged people to visit and to join such as an outdoor concert this Friday night and a parade down Main Street on Saturday morning.
“No one is prohibited from coming to Ouray, and anyone who wants to is welcome to come and enjoy our amenities,” Underwood told The Denver Post.
The invitation comes as the tourist-driven town heads into one of its biggest weeks of the summer season. Ouray typically sees 10,000 and 12,000 visitors per day this time of year, Underwood said, and the local economy is highly dependent on their business. But the fire, and the dramatic photos of it, are deterring would-be vacationers.
The has seen about 70% of its reservations for the next two weeks canceled, said owner Clay Bales.
Beth Bridges, assistant general manager of the , said her restaurant dinner crowd at the onsite Mineshaft Restaurant has also slowed down significantly.
Locals remain split about whether having an influx of visitors right now is a good idea, Bales said. The fire is growing rapidly, but wind is driving the flames northeast away from Ouray into the Uncompahgre National Forest, according to the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, .
Still, wind can change directions. So, the challenge is balancing that possibility against the economic fallout from tourists staying away from Ouray throughout the fire, which could last many weeks. The trickle-down effect could mean businesses closing and employees losing their livelihoods. As a result, some have posted photos and videos on social media of blue skies and clear weather.
“Our businesses are dependent upon patronage, and this summer season is integral to their financial resources,” Underwood said.
“Itap not just the business — itap the employees, vendors, suppliers, farmers that are all impacted. Itap a huge ecosystem to make a tourism economy run and impacting any part of that can impact the whole thing,” Bales said.
The U.S. Forest Service in the Cimarron Ridge of the San Juan Mountains, near Silver Jack Reservoir and Owl Creek Pass, on Tuesday night, including the Big Cimarron and Beaver Lake and Silver Jack campgrounds and the Jackson Guard station.
Additional mandatory evacuations remain in place east of Highway 550 in Ouray County.
By contrast, officials made the town of Ouray more accessible Wednesday afternoon by reopening a portion of U.S. Highway 550 and allowing drivers to enter from the north.
Kristie Thompson, spokesperson for the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, said incident commanders work closely with county and state officials to determine whether roads should be closed or remain open on state and federal lands, as well as where to close public lands. Asked if that meant officials believed the area was safe to access, Thompson reiterated that the area is currently open to the public.
“The county has a few areas that are evacuated, but there’s not any of those in Ouray, so people would be able to use their own judgement on any areas that are not under current evacuation,” she said.
For those who do choose to visit, Mayor Underwood emphasized following the Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit any open fires or flames, including cigarettes, and the use of fireworks. (Gas stoves are permitted.) He also discouraged people from using Ouray as a through point to drive the Million Dollar Highway and from pulling over on the side of the highway to gawk at the fire.
Ouray’s signature Perimeter Trail is currently open for hiking, Underwood added. The wilderness south of Ouray remains open for recreation at this time; however, hikers and campers should be aware that smoke can cause respiratory issues and decrease visibility should it roll into the area, said Sgt. Derrick Linnell with the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office.
Linnell advised anyone looking for more information to call the Gold Mountain Fire hotline at 970-325-3056 or look for updates on the . Bales also recommended downloading the Watch Duty app to receive timely updates and having a plan should evacuation be necessary.
