News

• A Gold Mountain Fire Update
• Town Council Election Still in Flux
• Telluride Community Survey Shows Areas for Improvement

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A Gold Mountain Fire Update

The Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray continued to burn Wednesday, growing to nearly 15,000 acres by broadcast deadline with 0% containment.

On Tuesday night, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team — the federal team now leading the fire response — held a community meeting in Ridgway to update residents on firefighting efforts and evacuation operations.

Casey Cheesbrough, incident commander for the fire, said residents should prepare for a prolonged response, especially with more hot, dry weather in the forecast.

“This fire is burning in heavy timber; there’s not a lot of relief in sight. With the growth today this fire has spread out in a lot of heavy fuels up there, not a lot of relief coming, at least in the near future. Bear with us, it’s going to be a long haul,” Cheesbrough said.

Tyler Nathe, operations section chief for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, said crews are prioritizing the protection of lives and property while limiting firefighter exposure in steep, inaccessible terrain.

“That’s where balance comes with not wanting to put our firefighters out in this steep, rugged terrain, it’s just not worth the risks for what’s out there. There’s nothing really other than beautiful country — which don’t get me wrong is certainly a value — but there’s no life risk and there’s property risk out there so we’re steering away from really engaging any folks out in that difficult, tough country and we’re focusing our efforts towards the values we’ve identified with the agency administrators here. That will continue to be our focus as we move forward with the incident,” Nathe said.

Those priorities include protecting the city of Ouray, homes in the area and the U.S. Highway 550 corridor.

Several neighborhoods along the Highway 550 corridor remain under evacuation orders, along with portions of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

At the meeting, Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry acknowledged the difficulty of evacuations but said they are necessary to protect lives.

“It is hard sometimes because we are leaving behind, when we have to evacuate, everything, with the faith that it’s going to be there when we come back. Not knowing is often the hardest part,” Perry said.

So far, no homes have been lost to the fire. Perry said crews have worked to restore utilities for most homes in the evacuation area, but residents should not expect to return immediately.

“I don’t have a timeframe for when we can get back into our homes,” Perry said.

Perry said local law enforcement is providing escorts into evacuated areas for residents who need brief access to their homes.

As the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team continues battling the Gold Mountain Fire, Cheesbrough thanked the local agencies and firefighters who responded when the fire first ignited.

“Thanks to that initial attack crew — the type 3 team — that had this fire before we transitioned, most of the success to this point was really on the backs of your local responders, your local type 3 teams, and the work that went on specifically down on the 550 corridor, around Ouray, and up in that Lake Lenore area. Really tremendous effort for those folks,” Cheesbrough said.

Residents who evacuated their homes sought shelter at Ridgway Secondary School. KVNF’s Audrey McCabe spoke with several evacuees.

Story beings at 4:00.

KOTO will continue providing on-air updates on the Gold Mountain Fire as conditions change.

Additional information is available at ouraycountyco.gov, on the Gold Mountain Fire Facebook page and on the Gold Mountain Fire page at inciweb.wildfire.gov.

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Town Council Election Still in Flux

Marya Stark will retain her seat on Telluride Town Council after receiving the most votes in Tuesday’s special election, earning 465 votes, or just more than 42% of ballots cast.

Stark has served on the Town Council since November 2025, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy following the November election.

“It’s different because you have the support of the community. I really appreciate that. It definitely feels different,” Stark said.

Stark will now serve the remainder of the term through 2029.

Looking ahead to the next three and a half years, Stark said she plans to continue working on community vitality, economic diversification and the town budget.

“Certainly, climate change is profound, primarily because it affects the revenue of the town itself — because we are so dependent on tourism. To me, that’s really the biggest challenge the town faces. From there flows everything — all the projects that are hoped for, do we even need to consider tightening the belt? That’s very possible if we’re going to have shorter winters and it’s going to take some time to diversify the winter. Anything’s up for grabs. Anything is possible,” Stark said.

Stark said she also hopes to serve as a bridge between local government and the community.

“I find the whole process of public comment and hearing from people really interesting and useful. My inherent nature is problem solving so I’m interested in hearing from everyone and trying to find solutions that make sense for everyone,” Stark said.

The second Town Council seat remains too close to call. Just 23 votes separate Charles Dalton and Chris Uihlein, with Dalton currently leading.

According to the San Miguel County Clerk’s Office, 26 ballots remain outstanding — enough to change the outcome. Those ballots will be counted July 9.

Speaking with KOTO, Dalton said he appreciates the community turning out to vote, is grateful for three strong candidates and is confident whoever wins will serve the community well.

Uihlein was unavailable for comment by broadcast deadline.

At the state level, Colorado voters selected party nominees in several of the state’s highest-profile races.

Colorado Capitol News Alliance, Kyle McKinnon reports Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet to win the Democratic nomination for governor.

In Colorado’s 8th Congressional District — one of the nation’s top House battlegrounds — state Rep. Manny Rutinel won the Democratic nomination. He will face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in November.

In Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeated longtime U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary.

Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper also defeated state Sen. Julie Gonzales in the Democratic primary.

In another statewide race, Secretary of State Jena Griswold won the Democratic nomination for attorney general.

In Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd won the Republican primary, defeating challenger Ron Hanks with nearly 68% of the vote.

Hurd will face Democrat Dwayne Romero in the November general election.

Romero, a former Aspen City Council member, defeated fellow Pitkin County resident Alex Kelloff in the Democratic primary.

The Associated Press called the race for Romero on Tuesday evening after he built a 55% to 45% lead.

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Telluride Community Survey Shows Areas for Improvement

Feelings are mixed when it comes to living and working in the Telluride region, according to the 2026 Town of Telluride Community Survey.

“Year over year we see a really really high response rate when it comes to rating ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ in our natural environment and recreation. Natural environment, paths and trails, water resources and air quality are all outperforming national benchmarks,” Telluride Communications Manager Lindsey Mills told the Telluride Town Council on Tuesday.

Survey respondents also gave high marks for public safety, emergency preparedness, mobility and accessibility, and overall quality of life.

Mills presented results from the National Community Survey, which assesses livability in communities across the country. In Telluride, 633 residents responded to the survey, for a response rate of 25%.

“Where residents want to see change, affordability and the cost of living is one of the largest pain points. Cost of living was rated ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ by just 3% of our respondents,” Mills said.

This is the third consecutive year the town has conducted the survey. Mills said that continuity is beginning to reveal trends in the data.

“Year over year we’re seeing declining trends in confidence in government, economic health, and civic and community pride,” Mills said.

Mills said the town performs well in many areas, but focused her presentation on three priorities for improvement: economy and affordability, governance and public trust, and community connection and belonging.

Regarding the economy and affordability, Mills said, “Some things to think about as you take away what the residents are saying here, is we’re considering workforce/attainable housing-linked economic strategies, business retention and diversification, and a renewed economic development work plan with measurable targets the Town can report back against in 2027 and 2028.”

On governance and public trust, Mills noted Telluride’s trends mirror broader national patterns.

“Some things to consider, prioritizing a 2027 communications and engagement reset. Looking more at the proactive public information on budget and policy decisions, visible follow through on past commitments, and structured opportunities for two-way dialogue,” Mills said.

For community connection and belonging, Mills said, “Invest in community-building programming is identified as a resident priority. You could partner with HOAs, schools, and nonprofits on welcoming initiatives for full-time residents, renters, and seasonal workers alike.”

While the survey offers insight into residents’ perspectives, Mills said opportunities for public feedback will continue.

“Stay involved. Stay tuned in. This is your opportunity to say what matters to you in 2027. It kicks off with this survey, and then continues all through November with adoption,” Mills said.

As the town begins the 2027 budget process, department heads will use feedback from the survey to help shape their budget priorities for the coming year.

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Region Celebrates 4th of July

The United States’ 250th birthday is just around the corner, and communities across the region are preparing to celebrate.

Mountain Village will kick off the holiday weekend Friday, July 3, with family activities and a drone show.

In Telluride, the Fourth of July celebration begins with a parade down Main Street at 11 a.m.

Activities in Town Park begin at 11:30 a.m. and include family-friendly games, local food vendors, a beer garden and a laser and drone show at dusk.

Musical performances include the Gold Kings from noon to 1 p.m., the Leather Heads from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Sister Sabbath from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Because of fire restrictions, Telluride will not hold a fireworks display this year. Instead, the evening will feature a series of drone and laser shows. The first drone show, “Under the San Juans,” will be followed by the “Electric Porcupine” laser and dance party. The night will conclude with the “Sonic Bloom” drone show.

The City of Ouray will also celebrate the Fourth of July despite the challenges posed by the Gold Mountain Fire, although this year’s festivities have been scaled back.

Celebrations begin Friday, July 3, with the Ouray Volunteer Fire Department Benefit Concert in Fellin Park from 6 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, July 4, a parade will travel down Main Street beginning at 10 a.m., followed by a community gathering in Fellin Park at 11 a.m.

There will be no fireworks in Telluride, Mountain Village or Ouray because both San Miguel and Ouray counties are under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit fireworks and explosives of any kind.

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Rural Colorado Prepares for Rising Summer Heat

It has been a hot start to summer in the Rocky Mountains, with long-term forecasts pointing to above-average temperatures for the rest of the season.

While larger cities often experience extreme heat because of the urban heat island effect — caused by fewer green spaces and more heat-absorbing surfaces — rural communities face different challenges.

Rural areas can be especially vulnerable because of factors such as older populations and a higher concentration of people who work outdoors, including those in agriculture and recreation.

Marguerite Harden with the Colorado Resiliency Office said the state has been working to support rural communities as they prepare for extreme heat.

“Part of the reason that we’ve seen increasing demand for extreme heat support is an increasing number of hot days and heat waves in recent decades. So seven of Colorado’s top 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 2010, and we know that further and significant warming is expected in all parts of Colorado in all seasons over the next several decades,” Harden said.

The state helps rural communities develop heat action plans and provides funding and resources for heat mitigation efforts.

Those efforts include planting trees to create more shade, using heat-resistant building materials and developing shade structures and cooling shelters.

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Music Offers Healing Through Illness and Grief

Aspen Ideas: Health wrapped up last week in western Colorado.

The festival brought together medicine, public health, science and policy professionals from around the world for a three-day gathering focused on some of the most pressing issues in health care.

One topic explored during the event was how music can be used for therapy and rehabilitation, pain and stress management, and as a coping mechanism.

Aspen Public Radio’s Regan Mertz reports on how music is helping people navigate illness and grief.

A group of Aspen Ideas: Health session leaders and attendees sang a song about cancer remission. The song appears in Daniel and Patrick Lazour’s play “Night Side Songs,” which explores how music can help people navigate sickness, grief and healing.

The Lazour brothers created the play after their grandmother and uncle died from cancer shortly after one another. They said they wanted to write songs about something that is not often portrayed in art: cancer.

“Another element of this show is helping to shepherd people through grief for, you know, having that sounding board, or having that person on the stage saying that thing that you experienced that you haven’t seen before,” Daniel and Patrick Lazour said.

“And being able to participate,” they added.

The Lazour brothers said the play is not entirely focused on sadness. They said there are also plenty of moments of humor and laughter.