A fire broke out on Saturday below the Gold Mountain Ranch and near the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour area, off County Road 14 near Ouray, according to the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office.

A press release from Ouray County Government says that mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for Lake Lenore, Panoramic Heights, Redstone Road, Peck’s Trailer Park and there is heightened security from first responders on-scene for evacuated areas. There is also a pre-evacuation zone from Whispering Pines to Black Lake. An evacuation center has been established at the Ridgway Secondary School, 1200 Green Street.

The fire has also caused the Colorado Department of Transportation to close a two-mile stretch of U.S. 550 north of Ouray. According to Ouray County Government, the road will remain closed overnight from near the Timber Ridge gas station to the Whispering Pines bridge.

Resources including Type I hotshots (boots on ground), multiple engines, multiple air tankers and Type II and Type III helicopters have been ordered to help put out the fire.

Follow along for more updates from the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office here.

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