Intense rainfall triggered flooding and debris flows on recent wildfire burn scars Wednesday evening, prompting emergency evacuation orders in southern Colorado counties.
Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray remained closed in both directions Thursday as state transportation crews responded to at least eight mudslide areas, the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a post on social media. Photos shared by the agency show water rushing over the highway in areas and crews using heavy machinery to clear massive piles of mud and rock that rendered the road impassable.
The agency had no estimated timeline for reopening the pass.
Another 4-mile stretch of U.S. 550 north of Ouray was also closed due to flooding on the highway, CDOT said.
Residents living in some communities near the Gold Mountain fire burn scar northeast of Ouray were told to evacuate immediately.
“If you are home and able to, emergency services is directing residents to EVACUATE the area for your safety!” the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office told residents in a post on Facebook. “Extreme flooding is occurring in this area due to heavy rain on the Gold Mtn burn scar.”
Heavy rain also inundated the town of Beulah in Pueblo County, where the Aspen Acres fire has destroyed more than 300 homes. Photos by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office show muddy water covering roads, flooding patios and leaving debris strewn across streets. Video captured fast-moving floodwaters surging down a road.
Several roads were closed due to mud and debris. At about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, officials warned of “extreme danger” along Colorado 78 as floodwaters flowed toward the highway.
“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation,” Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District said. “Do not attempt to travel through moving or standing water. Evacuated to higher ground now.”
The Aspen Acres fire, the largest active fire burning in Colorado, has scorched more than 101,900 acres across Pueblo and Custer Counties since igniting June 29. The Gold Mountain fire, which started June 27 near Ouray, was estimated at 39,506 acres as of Thursday morning.
Crews assigned to the Gold Mountain fire are building waterbars, which are shallow ditches, to prevent soil erosion and divert runoff water from the significant rainfall over the past several days, fire officials said.
This is a developing story that will be updated.