Sheep Head Fire Near Walsenburg Reaches 65% Containment at 1,322 Acres

Description: The Sheep Head, or Big Sheep, Fire northwest of Walsenburg is 65% contained at 1,322 acres, with crews securing fire lines, mopping up hot spots, and monitoring gusty winds.

Sheep Head (Big Sheep) Fire Update

Saturday, July 4, 2026 - 8 a.m.

Colorado Incident Management Team
Phil Daniels, Incident Commander

Size: 1,322 acres  |  Containment: 65%  |  Total Personnel: 101
Location: 22 Miles NW of Walsenburg, Colorado in Huerfano County
Reported: June 30, 2026, at 3:20 p.m.

Special Notes: The acreage has been increased slightly to reflect more accurate mapping; however, the actual footprint of the fire has not changed noticeably. Containment has increased to 65%, now that lines have held for another day, despite gusty winds. Additional containment is expected tomorrow along the east flank, which was not included in today’s containment calculation out of an abundance of caution until after the predicted weather event passes through.

Current Situation: Firing operations earlier in the week were very successful in keeping the fire in the established footprint. The extremely dry fuels were beneficial in achieving good consumption, resulting in a significant reduction in smoke in the area. Crews are finishing cold trailing and mopping up hot spots on the north and south sides of the fire, ensuring the perimeter has been secured 75-100 feet in from the perimeter. Engines and dozers will continue working the roads on the flanks, extending and improving the containment lines and mopping up any remaining hot spots. As containment increases, fire management officials are releasing unneeded resources to “right-size” the incident and minimize costs.

Weather: A cold front is forecast to arrive by mid-to-late morning, with winds shifting from northerly in the morning to easterly by afternoon. Breezy east to southeast winds will develop Saturday afternoon, with a chance of thunderstorm development through the evening hours, potentially bringing some low-level moisture to the burn area. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 80’s, and relative humidity will remain in the single digits, with poor overnight recovery. The chance of thunderstorms will continue through the rest of the week.

Fire Behavior: The fire has been mainly wind- and terrain-driven. Fire behavior has moderated following successful burnout operations that removed interior fuels. Pockets of unburned fuels and interior hot spots remain, but the perimeter itself is cooling down nicely, with a solid amount of black at the fire’s edge that has been ground-truthed by firefighters patrolling the perimeter. There was good humidity recovery overnight, which should limit fire behavior until the sun comes out later, which may dry out fuels.

Closures: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect in the airspace above the fire. Wildfires are always a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Huerfano County as of June 30, 2026. This includes the towns of Walsenburg, La Veta and Gardner.

Evacuations: A pre-evacuation notice is in place for areas north of the Big Sheep Fire to Highway 69 due to smoke. Stay informed and sign up for Huerfano County emergency alerts at: https://huerfano.us/hcnotify-sign-up/.

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