Fire Restrictions Still in Place for Public Lands

Fire Restrictions Still in Place for Public Lands

 

DURANGO - Fire danger is high and fire restrictions remain in effect for all San Juan National Forest and BLM Tres Rios Field Office lands in southwestern Colorado.  Regulations are more restrictive at lower elevations, and less restrictive at higher elevations to reflect different conditions.  The higher and lower elevation areas have been identified as Zones 1 and 2 and are set up to follow recognizable features, such as roads, trails or jurisdictional boundaries.

At lower elevations, you cannot have a fire anywhere.  Smoking is only allowed inside a vehicle or building.  Chainsaws must have working spark arrestors and be used with a fire extinguisher and shovel.  You cannot weld or use any kind of flame torch.  You cannot use explosives or fireworks.

At higher elevations, chainsaws must have spark arrestors. Welding, open flame torches, explosives and fireworks are banned.  However, campfires are allowed in permanent fire grates at a few campgrounds, including Sig Creek, South Mineral, Little Molas on the Columbine Ranger District and Cayton, Burro Bridge, West Dolores, and Mavreeso on the Dolores Ranger District.   

Maps showing specific boundaries between Zones 1 and 2 are available at public lands offices in Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Dolores, or online at: www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan. For more information, call 970 247-4874.