South Rim Fire Resources: A guide to supporting the Black Canyon and nearby communities
July 18, 2025
Photo by Daniel Erlandson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stunning-view-of-black-canyon-at-gunnison-national-park-31317408/
Affecting the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and many surrounding communities, the South Rim Fire is 14% contained; through it all, local organizations are keeping residents informed through updated resources and by providing opportunities to support the area.
This entry serves as a non-comprehensive list of information, resources and support methods.
About the South Rim Fire
A lightning strike started the South Rim Fire in Gunnison on July 10. As of the morning of July 18, its size was 4,227 acres. Outlets reported on July 16 that the fire burned 85% of Black Canyon.
According to an article from The Colorado Sun, several of the park’s buildings are fully or mostly damaged.
The last evacuation notice listed on InciWeb was posted on July 12. Surrounding roads and the Bostwick Park Community in Montrose County were put under evacuation. A frequently updated map is available to the public that shows all of the areas under evacuation.
The park was also evacuated and is closed to the public until further notice, and they will not accept any campground reservations through the end of 2025, according to The Daily Sentinel.
As of early July 18, Mesa and Western Montrose counties are under an air quality advisory due to the smoke. Current and future advisories can be found on the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Air Quality page.
Information and community resources
Local government organizations and community pages have been sharing places to find information and support:
Anyone in the area can share any updates they have on this fire through the official public information email account or by calling their hotline at 970-773-5823 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The official InciWeb page for the South Rim Fire has information on closures, evacuations and announcements, according to the Delta County Active Wildfires page.
Wildfire-related road closures are available to view on COtrip, which offers information on travel alerts, road conditions and more.
An official Facebook page dedicated to the South Rim Fire is live with frequent updates, announcements, releases and more.
The Montrose Police Department has been sharing releases, announcements, information and resources on their Facebook page, with a more selective posting of information on Instagram.
The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office shares resources, statistics and updates regularly on Facebook.
Montrose County has an official Instagram account, where they share selective updates and substantial formal releases.
While this list mostly offers information related to the South Rim Fire, there are currently wildfires burning all over the state. The Delta County Active Wildfires page offers a range of resources for the ones within or near their county.
Friends of the Black Canyon and Curecanti National Recreation Area
Friends of the Black Canyon and Curecanti National Recreation Area is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the park, evaluating its needs and fulfilling them through relevant program and initiative-based assistance.
Ally Gerken, who is chair of Friends of the Black Canyon, said they focus on fundraising, donation collection and volunteer projects.
The proceeds from their current fundraiser will go toward the general recovery costs needed for the park. Gerken said the organization hopes to get 2,000 donors who make $5-$50 donations. Their total goal is $1.2 million for initial costs, with a steady donation stream as an ideal going forward.
“That would be just general because we know there's at least $1.2 million that's damaged, and the reason we want it to be monthly donors is because we want to be able to provide a steady stream of income to the park on a regular basis,” Gerken said.
Those who want to contribute to the park in other ways can sign up via the Friends of the Black Canyon “Home” page to receive notifications regarding volunteer opportunities.
While there are no running opportunities at the moment, Gerken said that “on the ground” volunteer work will become available once the fire is fully contained and more evaluation can take place.
Gerken encourages people who aren’t local or able to donate to spread the word about the organization’s efforts. “ I think the best thing to do is just share it and maybe share your story of why this park is important to you. People really seem to connect with that," she said.
Gerken said the organization’s website is the best place to find information and stay up-to-date on their work. Friends of the Black Canyon also organizes and promotes fundraisers and community events. These are often posted on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
General fire relief-focused organizations
According to their website, the Red Cross of Colorado, which aids in disaster relief, has regional chapters that regularly accept donations.
Gerken noted that donations to the Red Cross often get used across communities and will not go directly into the park itself.
Those in need of Red Cross services near the South Rim Fire Area should contact the Western Chapter or consult their services page.
Delta County’s Active Wildfire page suggests reaching out to local fire protection districts to see if they accept donations. The closest district to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the Montrose Fire Protection District.
Those looking for a specific fire protection district in Colorado can use this map and type in their region.
