Colorado air quality alert as wildfires declared disaster emergency
An air quality alert has been issued across large parts of western Colorado as multiple fast-moving wildfires continue to burn along the Utah–Colorado border, prompting a state disaster emergency declaration and raising concerns over public health and safety.
The most significant blaze—the Snyder Mesa Fire—formed by the merger of the Jones, Knowles, and Snyder Mesa fires, has burned more than 28,000 acres after crossing from Utah into Colorado, and remains completely uncontained, according to the official disaster emergency statement, which was issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis on Saturday, June 27.
The fires are concentrated near the Utah border and have spread into Mesa County, including areas close to Fruita and Glade Park. Additional fires have been reported elsewhere on the Western Slope, including north of Ouray, northeast of Grand Junction, and in the San Juan National Forest.
The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit has confirmed that it’s “responding to approximately eight confirmed wildfires following lightning received in the past 24 hours,” adding that it had “engines, crews, and aircraft actively engaged in suppression efforts on all incidents.”
State agencies, including the Division of Fire Prevention and Control and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), have been tasked with coordinating firefighting operations, deploying crews, aircraft, and incident management teams.
The escalating fire conditions have proven deadly for responders.
According to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, three federal firefighters have been killed and two others injured after being caught in a “burnover” incident—which is when flames overtake crews—while working on containing fires near the border.
The injured firefighters are being treated for burn injuries, while the identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
Pre-evacuation orders were issued on June 27 by the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, for parts of Mesa County as wildfire activity intensified near Glade Park.
Initially, authorities directed all properties along BS Road west of 11 5/10 Road to the Utah border to prepare to leave, with deputies conducting in-person notifications. By early evening, officials expanded the pre-evacuation zone, extending it to 16 ½ Road, covering areas along BS Road westward to the Utah state line.
In addition to evacuation measures, road closures were also put in place. A 2/10 Road was closed at DS Road and at BS Road near the Bureau of Land Management boundary, with Mesa County Road and Bridge assisting enforcement.
Officials also advised residents who were pre-evacuating and needed help sheltering large animals to contact the Mesa County Fairgrounds for assistance.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has also issued air quality health advisories, via the National Weather Service (NWS), across much of western Colorado, including Mesa, Garfield, Routt, Eagle, Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, and Pitkin counties, as well as areas such as Aspen, Vail, Grand Junction, and Telluride.
Officials warn that “moderate to heavy smoke” from the wildfires could linger until at least Sunday morning, significantly reducing visibility and impacting air quality.
Residents are advised to stay indoors when smoke is heavy, limit outdoor activity, and use protective measures such as masks if exposure is unavoidable—particularly for vulnerable groups including children, older adults, and those with heart or respiratory conditions. They’ve also been urged to “consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill.”
According to Fox13, firefighters have been battling extreme weather conditions, including high winds, low humidity, and dry fuels, which have accelerated fire growth and hindered containment efforts.
The NWS isn’t forecasting any rain over the next few days, meaning fire danger remains elevated and smoke impacts are likely to persist in the short term.
While the air quality alert is set to expire Sunday morning, officials caution that smoke and fire risks may continue through Monday, depending on weather conditions and fire behaviour.