Watch Duty

Crews are battling the Elk Fire, a new blaze that ignited east of the Gold Mountain Fire, burning 30-40 acres as of Thursday night. Airtankers are dropping retardant, causing increased smoke in the valley, with wind carrying additional smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire. The U.S. Forest Service and aerial resources from the Gold Mountain Fire are assisting in the response.

The Aspen Acres Fire has become the seventh largest wildfire in Colorado history, burning 91,523 acres with 12% containment. The Ferris Fire has burned 47,780 acres at 21% containment, while the Snyder Fire is unaffected by nearby storms. A community meeting for Aspen Acres Fire impacts is scheduled in Pueblo.

Colorado wildfires have burned over 80,000 acres, with prime fire conditions expected Tuesday due to strong winds. The Snyder Fire and Gold Mountain Fire are among the largest, threatening areas in Mesa and Ouray counties. A red flag warning and fire restrictions are in effect statewide.

Watch Duty, a fire tracking app, is expanding to monitor floods after successfully helping over 2.5 million users track wildfires in Los Angeles County. The app was developed by John Mills following his experience with inadequate alerts during a fire near his home and now aims to improve flood communication, especially after deadly Texas floods in July 2024.

Watch Duty, a popular wildfire tracking app, is expanding its platform to include flood monitoring. This addition marks the first new disaster alert on the service, with more features planned for the future.