Skip to content
DisasterStatus

High · Inactive

P-L Gulch Fire

Possible damage: Fire

Live status, affected area, official sources and recovery guidance.

Active wildfires

Updated
High significance Inactive 100% contained Rio Blanco, Colorado · Last updated · source: NASA EONET

This event is no longer active — it's kept here as a record. Recovery may still be underway; the guidance below applies.

A high-significance wildfire began in Rio Blanco, Colorado on July 13, 2026, posing fire damage risk to structures in the affected area.

Overview written from official NASA EONET and National Interagency Fire Center/IRWIN data.

Type
Wildfires
Official size
1,580 acres
Containment
100%
Cause
Human
Began
Status
Inactive

Affected by this event? Open your area's damage guides below to reach a vetted local restoration pro, 24/7.

Affected area map

The shaded area is the affected-area perimeter reported for this event by NASA EONET (Rio Blanco, Colorado), colored by hazard type. Pan and zoom to explore the map; when more than one observation exists, use the slider below to step through how the reported area changed.

Interactive affected-area map

Rio Blanco, Colorado · ≈ 2.5 sq mi reported extent · Enable JavaScript to explore the map.

View the timeline — how the reported area changed

Official size & containment

Official incident size and containment reported through NIFC / IRWIN, as we observed it. Newest first.

  1. 1,580 acres ±0 100% contained
  2. 1,580 acres ±0 95% contained
  3. 1,580 acres ±0 95% contained
  4. 1,580 acres ±0 95% contained
  5. 1,580 acres ±0 70% contained
  6. 1,580 acres ±0 70% contained
  7. 1,580 acres ±0 70% contained
  8. 1,580 acres ±0 55% contained
Show 12 earlier observations
  1. 1,580 acres ±0 55% contained
  2. 1,580 acres ±0 45% contained
  3. 1,580 acres ±0 15% contained
  4. 1,580 acres ±0 15% contained
  5. 1,580 acres ±0 15% contained
  6. 1,580 acres −20 15% contained
  7. 1,600 acres ±0 15% contained
  8. 1,600 acres ±0 15% contained
  9. 1,600 acres ±0 15% contained
  10. 1,600 acres ±0 5% contained
  11. 1,600 acres +100 5% contained
  12. 1,500 acres 5% contained

Shown as reported by our sources — not an official product. For current advisories and the authoritative map, see NASA EONET ↗.

Restoration help near this event

Tap your city for a vetted local pro on that service, answered 24/7. Where we don't have a nearby city page yet, the step-by-step guides cover what to do first.

Fire damage restoration

What to do now

Find a fire damage restoration pro

Water damage restoration

Putting out a fire — hose lines, sprinklers, suppression — often floods the property and leaves water damage behind too.

What to do now

Find a water damage restoration pro

Latest updates

Official updates and news coverage for this event, newest first — National Weather Service products, local storm reports, incident updates and press headlines. Official items are verbatim government text; news headlines link out to the original outlet.

  1. Forecast discussion NWS GJT

    Area Forecast Discussion

    Localized heavy rainfall Thursday could cause flash flooding and debris flows near recent burn scars.

    Show full text

    000 FXUS65 KGJT 121802 AFDGJT

    Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1202 PM MDT Wed Aug 12 2026

    .KEY MESSAGES...

    - Moisture begins to increase today, with peak coverage expected Thursday.

    - Localized heavy rainfall may prompt flash flooding and debris flows, especially around burns scars.

    - Temperatures begin a cooling trend through the end of the work week, into the weekend.

    &&

    .UPDATE... Issued at 1152 AM MDT Wed Aug 12 2026

    A Flood Watch has been issued for forecast zones that encompass the northwestern and southwestern San Juans until midnight. Localized heavy rainfall may prompt flash flooding and debris flows, especially around recent burn scars. Continue to be weather aware and have multiple ways to receive watches and warnings.

    &&

    .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1025 AM MDT Wed Aug 12 2026

    PRECIPITATION CHANCES THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK:

    The current synoptic level pattern is characterized by a high pressure dome to our east, with troughing dominating the West Coast. This will allow flow aloft over the Desert Southwest and Southern Great Basin to transition to a more southerly-southwesterly regime. Because of the clockwise circulation ass…

    Read the full discussion at NWS GJT ↗

  2. News The Pagosa Springs Sun

    Rio Blanco Fire evacuation order lifted

    Read the full article at The Pagosa Springs Sun ↗

  3. News Denver Gazette

    CPW kills another depredating wolf after "very difficult" decision to remove animal

    Read the full article at Denver Gazette ↗

  4. News AOL.com

    PL Gulch Fire reaches 95% containment, command to transfer to local unit

    Read the full article at AOL.com ↗

Show 2 earlier updates
  1. Denver Gazette News

    Wildfire near Pagosa Springs reportedly threatens 373 homes after quick growth

  2. CraigDailyPress.com News

    Fuhr Gulch and Keystone fires remain at more than 4,500 acres

Updates are captured automatically from official and news sources, and may lag the live source. For the very latest, see NASA EONET ↗.

Call (833) 652-7533