WILDFIRE INFORMATION

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Stay Informed — Sign Up for Emergency Alerts in Your County

When wildfire threatens our region, every minute counts. The best way to receive real-time evacuation orders, pre-evacuation notices, and emergency updates is to sign up for your county's official emergency alert system. These alerts are sent directly to your phone via call, text, or email.

KVNF strongly encourages all listeners to register before fire season begins. Even if you've signed up in the past, it's worth logging in to confirm your contact information and address are current.

Delta County (North Fork Valley, Paonia, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Delta) Delta County uses the Delta County Alerts system, powered by Genasys. Sign up to receive location-specific alerts by phone, text, or email. 👉 Sign up for Delta County Alerts .

Montrose County (Montrose, Ridgway, Norwood, Naturita) Montrose County uses the Montrose County Alerts system through the Montrose County Sheriff's Office. 👉 Sign up for Montrose County Alerts You can also visit the Montrose County Emergency Management page for more information.

Ouray County (Ouray, Ridgway) Ouray County uses the Ouray County Alerts system, powered by Genasys. Be sure to enter your physical address during registration to receive location-based alerts. 👉 Sign up for Ouray County Alerts Or text ourayalerts to 65513 to register by phone. Questions? Contact Ouray County Emergency Management at 970-325-7273.

Gunnison & Hinsdale Counties (Lake City and surrounding areas) Gunnison and Hinsdale counties share a combined emergency dispatch system. Residents in both counties — including the Lake City area — can register through Gunnison Regional Alerts, powered by Genasys. 👉 Sign up for Gunnison Regional Alerts Add your home address during registration to ensure you receive location-targeted alerts.

A note for Hinsdale County residents: If you are specifically in the Lake City/Hinsdale County area and want to confirm which system covers your address, you can contact Hinsdale County Emergency Management directly at (970) 944-2225 or visit hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov.

Don't rely on one source alone. In addition to county alert systems, KVNF will broadcast emergency information on KVNF 90.9 FM and KVMT 89.1 FM as conditions develop. Bookmark this page and follow us on social media for updates.

Prepare

Create a Family Disaster Plan

A disaster plan is your household's playbook — agreed on before an emergency so everyone knows what to do without having to figure it out under pressure. Review and practice it at the start of each fire season.

Choose two meeting locations — one near your home for sudden emergencies, one outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return.
Designate an out-of-area contact. It is often easier to call outside your local area during an emergency. Have all family members check in with this person.
Plan multiple evacuation routes. Roads close during wildfires — know at least two ways out in each direction, including routes that accommodate livestock trailers if needed.
Account for large animals. If you have horses, goats, or other livestock, your plan must include trailer routes and evacuation destinations that accept animals.
Know your utility shut-offs. Every adult in the household should know where and how to shut off gas, electricity, and water.
Have fire extinguishers accessible and train all family members on their use.
Keep a NOAA Weather Radio at home. If cell service fails during a wildfire, a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio will still receive emergency alerts. KVNF 90.9 FM and KVMT 89.1 FM also broadcast emergency information when cell networks are down.
Keep a go bag ready (see below) and an extra emergency kit in your car in case you cannot return home.

When You Have to Leave: The 6 P's of Wildfire Evacuation
The 6 P's is a widely used wildfire evacuation framework developed by Cal Fire and adopted by fire departments across the country, including in Colorado. If you have 15 minutes to leave, focus on these six categories — in this order.

The P	What to prioritize
People	Account for all family members. Designate a meeting place away from the fire area and an out-of-area contact so separated family members can check in.
Pets	Have a plan for all pets and large animals, including horses and livestock. Know which evacuation routes accommodate trailers.
Papers & Documents	IDs, passports, insurance policies, birth certificates, property deeds, and key financial records. Consider storing digital copies in the cloud.
Prescriptions	A full supply of all medications and any special medical equipment for every family member.
Pictures & Priceless Items	Family photos, home videos, and other irreplaceable personal items. Also include laptops and external hard drives with backed-up data.
Plastic & Cash	Credit and debit cards, plus some cash in case card readers are down.

Pack a Go Bag

The American Red Cross and FEMA recommend that every household assemble an emergency kit before an emergency — not during one. Store it somewhere accessible so you can grab it in minutes. Items in red are additions based on current FEMA wildfire-specific guidance.

Category	Item	Notes
Water & Food	Water	One gallon per person (and pet) per day — minimum three-day supply. Seven days recommended for remote or mountain communities with limited road access.
Water & Food	Food	Non-perishable food for all family members and pets — at least a three-day supply. Include a manual can opener.
Health & Safety	N95 or KN95 Respirator Masks	Essential for wildfire smoke — one per family member. Standard dust masks are not sufficient. Recommended by FEMA and the Red Cross for wildfire preparedness.
	First Aid Kit	Include bandages, antiseptic, and any specialty supplies for your household.
	Prescriptions & Medications	Full supply for all family members, plus any special medical equipment.
	Extra Eyeglasses or Contacts	Replacement pair or extra supply.
	Sanitation Supplies	Wet wipes, garbage bags, hand sanitizer.
Power & Communication	Flashlight & Extra Batteries	Headlamps are especially useful, freeing both hands.
	Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio	Include a NOAA Weather Radio — critical if cell service fails. KVNF broadcasts emergency information on KVNF 90.9 FM and KVMT 89.1 FM.
	Whistle	To signal for help if you are trapped or separated.
	Phone Chargers & Power Bank	Chargers for cell phones, laptops, and other devices, plus a backup battery bank.
Documents & Finance	Important Documents	IDs, passports, insurance cards, birth certificates, property deeds, financial records. Store copies digitally.
	Plastic & Cash	Credit and debit cards, plus cash in case card readers are unavailable.
	Extra Car Keys	A spare set in case of emergency.
Navigation & Utilities	Evacuation Map	A printed map marked with multiple evacuation routes in case roads are closed.
Navigation & Utilities	Wrench or Pliers	To shut off gas, water, or electric utilities at the source if needed.
Irreplaceable Items	Family Photos & Mementos	Photos, home videos, and other items that cannot be replaced.
Irreplaceable Items	Laptop & External Hard Drive	Critical personal data and backed-up files.

💡 Tip: Keep a pair of old shoes and a flashlight beside your bed. A sudden night evacuation may not give you time to search for them.

For a complete emergency kit checklist, visit ready.gov/kit (FEMA) or redcross.org.

Sources: FEMA Ready.gov · American Red Cross · Cal Fire · Colorado DHSEM · FEMA Wildfire Protective Actions (community.fema.gov) · Draft prepared April 2026.

LOCAL SOURCES:

Facebook Page Links for Emergency information in our area:

Delta County Sheriff's Office: https://www.facebook.com/DCSOcolorado

Montrose County Sheriff's Office: https://www.facebook.com/MontroseCountySO

Ouray County Sheriff's Office: https://www.facebook.com/ouraycountysheriff

Gunnison County Sheriff's Office: https://www.facebook.com/GunnisonCountySheriffsOfficeCO

Hinsdale County Office of Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/HinsdaleOEM

Mesa County Sheriff's Office: https://www.facebook.com/Mesacountysheriffsoffice

State Resource:

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoFire

Montrose Interagency Fire Management Unit: Montrose BLM and GM-GUN-UNC National Forest

Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit: Grand Junction BLM and White River National Forest

Fire Weather Forecast: Western Colorado And Northeast Utah

NATIONAL SOURCES:

Daily National Situation Report: Large fire listing by Geographic Area

National Fire News: Summary of the SITREP and To-Date Statistics

National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook: 7-Day and Monthly

National Fire Weather: Scroll Down for "Fire Weather Outlooks"

Inciweb: Specific Info/Maps on large fires; Can sort by state; multiple pages; top report is the last incident that inputted data

AIR QUALITY SOURCES:

Office of Satellite and Product Operations - Hazard Mapping System (noaa.gov): To determine areas locally and nationally that are impacted by varying levels (low-extremely high) of smoke particulates.