Series of pile burns planned for Southwest Colorado
DOLORES, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management plans to conduct pile burns in Dolores, La Plata, and Montezuma counties in Southwest Colorado through April 2026. Crews will target hand-built piles on 850 acres of BLM-managed lands. This operation will reduce hazardous fuels, enhance wildfire research, and restore river corridor health by eliminating invasive species. Firefighters will remain on-site during ignitions and continue patrolling the area for several days to ensure containment and public safety.
“Pile burning gives us more control near homes and sensitive areas,” said Tyler Corbin, BLM Fuels Specialist with the Southwest District Office. “It’s a safer option than broadcast fire and still reduces wildfire risk.”
Weather and fuel conditions permitting, operations will take place across three counties at the following BLM locations:
· Dolores County operations are planned in the Dawson area, located south of Disappointment Valley approximately 17 miles northeast of Dove Creek, Colo.
· Montezuma County operations are planned within the McElmo Canyon area. This includes the Yellow Jacket and McElmo units near the Colorado–Utah border, as well as the Mud Springs unit located approximately six miles southwest of Cortez, Colo.
· La Plata County operations are planned approximately four miles northeast of Durango, Colo. Two separate pile units will be treated: Chelsea, located north of Florida Road, and Skyline, located south of Florida Road.
Smoke may be visible during active burning, especially in the afternoon, and could linger in low-lying areas during cooler evenings. Nearby communities may notice residual smoke as piles smolder post-ignition.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please visit the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division’s website at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
For updates and additional information, visit the projects InciWeb site, or the BLM's Southwest District Fire social media sites: https://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit and https://x.com/SWD_Fire.
For general information, contact John Wroblewski, BLM Southwest District Fire Mitigation Education Specialist at (970) 240-5335.
For media inquiries, contact Levi Spellman, Department of the Interior Public Affairs Specialist, at (719) 269-8553.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.