A dramatic photo of three firefighter silhouettes in front of a timber fire

Southwest District Fire Management

map of colorado with fire unit boundaries

Fire management involves an interagency approach among federal, state, and local partners. Southwest District Fire Management, based in Montrose, Colorado, provides wildland fire and fuels management support for BLM-managed lands in the Gunnison, Tres Rios (including Canyons of the Ancients National Monument), and Uncompahgre (including Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area) field offices.

Current Fire Restrictions, Closures & Notices

Uncompahgre Field Office

September 18, 2026: Stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted. With restrictions rescinded, visitors may once again participate in activities previously limited under Stage 1 or other fire prevention orders. Please continue to use extreme caution, stay informed of local conditions, and follow all safety guidelines when using fire or heat‑producing equipment. Standard year-round wildfire prevention rules remain in effect. 

Tres Rios Field Office

September 16, 2026: Stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted. With restrictions rescinded, visitors may once again participate in activities previously limited under Stage 1 or other fire prevention orders. Please continue to use extreme caution, stay informed of local conditions, and follow all safety guidelines when using fire or heat‑producing equipment. Standard year-round wildfire prevention rules remain in effect. 

Gunnison Field Office

September 18, 2026: Stage 1 fire restrictions have been lifted. With restrictions rescinded, visitors may once again participate in activities previously limited under Stage 1 or other fire prevention orders. Please continue to use extreme caution, stay informed of local conditions, and follow all safety guidelines when using fire or heat‑producing equipment. Standard year-round wildfire prevention rules remain in effect. 

Public Land Closures

Uncompahgre Field Office

There are no current fire-related public land closures on BLM lands administered by this field office.

Tres Rios Field Office

There are no current fire-related public land closures on BLM lands administered by this field office.

Gunnison Field Office

August 25, 2026: The BLM Gunnison Field Office reduced the footprint of its current temporary emergency closure in Ouray and Hinsdale counties. The revised closure now only prohibits public entry and use within these remaining areas:

  • BLM-administered public lands north of the Bear Creek Trail and Ridge Stock Driveway to the boundary of U.S. Forest Service-administered public lands in Ouray and Hinsdale counties, including Sections 1 and 12 of T43 N., R7 W., and Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of T43 N., R6 W.
  • BLM-administered public lands west of Colorado State Highway 149 to the boundary of U.S. Forest Service-administered public lands in Hinsdale County, including Sections 23, 26 and 35 of T45 N., R4 W.
  • Revised closure order
  • Revised closure map

 

District specific fire restrictions

(All fire restrictions are current unless the rescission order is posted. Please contact the field office for additional information.)

STAGE 1 FIRE RESTRICTIONS

graphic with images of the types of campfires that are allowed and not allowed during stage 1 fire restrictions
During stage 1 fire restrictions, campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds (fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable). No fires of any type, including charcoal, are permitted outside of developed areas.
 
  • Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds (i.e. a metal, in-ground containment structure -- fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable)
  • No fires of any type including charcoal outside of developed areas. Devices using pressurized liquid or gas are exempted.
  • No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or in a barren area free of vegetation.
  • No use of explosive materials, including explosive targets.
  • No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame except from an area that has been cleared of vegetation.

  • No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and in working order.

     

STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS

  • No campfires or use of specific grills or stoves in any location. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, charcoal grill, coal, wood burning stove or sheepherders stove, including in developed camping and picnic grounds is prohibited. Devices using pressurized liquid or gas are exempted.
  • No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building.
  • No use of an explosive requiring a fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
  • No use of any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either:
    • (a) Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a; or
    • (b) Appropriate Society of automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a). 36 CFR 261.52(j)
  • No operation of a chainsaw without an approved spark arrestor, and without a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher and a round-point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches. The extinguisher will be with the equipment operator. The shovel may be kept with fueling supplies but readily available for use.
  • No welding or operation of an acetylene or other torch with open flame.
Logo for the Southwest Fire Management Unit