Montrose County Office of Emergency Management Blog

Montrose, COLO.—The unincorporated area of Montrose County will be in stage 1 fire restrictions beginning Wednesday, June 15 at 12:01am. High temperatures, worsening dry conditions, and high winds were the deciding factors to take this precautionary...

PSA: Simms Fire Community Meeting tonight 6 pm. Join the Incident Management Team, Montrose County - Government, Ouray County Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Land Management - Colorado, U.S. Forest Service-Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National...

FUTURE SIMMS FIRE MESA UPDATES WILL BE POSTED EXCLUSIVELY TO WESTSLOPEFIREINFO.COM. --- Special Note: The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One assumed command of the fire at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022. There will be a community meeting tonight...

Montrose, Colorado, May 20, 2022Name: Simms FireLocation: 15 miles southwest of MontroseSize: 370 acresCause: Under investigationJurisdiction: USFS and BLMResources Assigned: 1 large helicopter, 10 engines, 2 water tenders, 1 dozer, 2 fire modules, 1 Type...

The evacuation orders have been lifted for the Simms Fire for all residents *EXCEPT those along the Wildcat Drainage area. Residents in the closed area are not able to return. Updated fire information is available at westslopefireinfo.com. If you have...

For fire information or assistance with evacuation, please call the Simms Mesa Fire Public Information line at (970) 765-7309. 

For Immediate Release: Simms Fire – UpdateMontrose, Colorado, May 20, 2022Name: Simms FireLocation: 15 miles southwest of MontroseSize: 371 acresCause: Under investigationJurisdiction: USFS and BLMResources Assigned: 2 air tankers, 2 large helicopter, 10...

EVACUATION NOTICEAny individuals that reside between Simms Mesa Rd, Government Springs Road as well as Wild Cat Canyon, EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. The evacuation area is a 5 mile radius of the pin on the map. Coordinates are 38.2763, -107.9271. Evacuation...

Sheriff Lillard has made the decision to life Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the West End of Montrose County will be on 12:01am Friday, September 3rd. This effectively ends all fire restrictions in the unincorporated county area for this time. For more information on...

Montrose, COLO.—The unincorporated area of Montrose County will be in stage 1 fire restrictions beginning Monday, June 21. Seasonal high temperatures, worsening dry conditions, and the heightening planning level of wildfire resources were the deciding factors to take...

Montrose, COLO.—Due to the extremely dry conditions and the additional dry weather that is projected for the area, Sheriff Gene Lillard has recommended Stage 1 Fire Restrictions beginning Thursday, July 2nd. Moisture levels are dropping daily, federal land partners...

Montrose, CO—Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) and Montrose County Public Health has confirmed that one person in Montrose County tested positive for novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 on March 20, 2020. The individual is a 39-year-old male and is...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2020Contact: Katie Yergensen, Montrose County Media Relations Managerkyergensen@montrosecounty.net, (970) 964-8701 National Guard Testing Pre-Screened COVID-19 Patients Monday Montrose, CO—The Colorado Department of Public Health and...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2020 Contact: Katie Yergensen, Montrose County Media Relations Manager kyergensen@montrosecounty.net, (970) 964-8701 COVID-19 Testing in Montrose County Montrose, CO— Due to a shortage of COVID-19 testing capacity across the US, and...

NEWS RELEASEFor Immediate ReleaseOctober 18, 2019Media Contacts:Kimberlee Phillips, USFS PAO(970) 874-6717kim.phillips@usda.govKatie Yergensen, Montrose County PIO(970) 964-8701kyergensen@montrosecounty.netCounties and Public Land Agencies Offer Friendly...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2019 Contact: USFS GMUG Public Affairs Officer, Kimberlee Phillips kim.phillips@usda.gov, (Phone) 970-874-6717 or (Cell) 970-589-0842 Contact: Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard glillard@montrosecounty.net, (970) 252-4023...

Montrose, COLO. — Montrose County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is aware of a small wildfire approximately 3.5 miles north of Norwood on Deer Mesa on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM, MCSO deputies, San Miguel Sheriff's Office...

Montrose, COLO. — Montrose County Emergency Management, Public Works, and Fairgrounds and Event Center have teamed up to install a self-serve sandbag filling station at the fairgrounds available to local residents. The goal of the station is to help homeowners...