PHOTOS: Inside the burn zone of Turner Gulch fire, Colorado’s largest active wildfire

The largest wildfire currently burning in Colorado, the Turner Gulch fire, had scorched 13,984 acres of Mesa County as of Wednesday night, fire officials said. RELATED: Colorado wildfires: Four Western Slope fires growing on thousands of acres Three of the four active fires in western Colorado were sparked last Thursday during a lightning storm. The 2,274-acre Sowbelly fire, which hasn’t grown since Monday, was started by the same storm. Smoke from the Turner Gulch fire fills the air along Colorado 141 north of Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) A fire fighting plane heads to Turner Gulch fire near Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) A dog walks alone amid smoke-filled air from the Turner Gulch fire along Colorado 141 north of Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Firefighters stopped and rescued the dog. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) The Gateway fire station in on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) Pre-evacuee Ben Wilson holds his daughter Rosemary during a community meeting at Gateway Community Center in Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) A community member hands a card and cookies to firefighters during a community meeting in Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) A helicopter works the Turner Gulch fire in Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) Smoke and dust from the Turner Gulch fire fills the air along Colorado 141 north of Gatewayin Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) The Turner Gulch fire burns near Gateway on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) Related Articles Colorado wildfires: 4 Western Slope fires growing on thousands of acres Colorado wildfires: Five fires on Western Slope burn nearly 21,000 acres 5-acre Douglas County brushfire contained after lightning strike Colorado wildfires: Turner Gulch fire explodes to 8,100 acres in Mesa County ‘Fire Train’ arrives in Douglas County to douse wildfire hotspots