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 NM), and Uncompahgre (including Gunnison Gorge NCA) field offices.

Current Fire Restrictions, Closures & Notices

UNCOMPAHGRE FIELD OFFICE

Effective September 12- all fire restrictions will be rescinded for all public lands administered by the BLM within the boundaries of Delta, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties, including Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area.

Rescission Order (effective September 12)

Stage 2 fire restrictions are no longer in effect for all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the boundaries of Delta, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties, including Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Stage 1 restrictions are still in effect.

Fire Prevention Order: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Rescinded

TRES RIOS FIELD OFFICE

Stage 2 fire restrictions are no longer in effect for all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tres Rios Field Office within the boundaries of Archuleta, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan, San Miguel, and the of Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. There are no current fire restrictions in place.

Fire Restriction Order: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Rescinded

GUNNISON FIELD OFFICE

Effective September 12- all fire restrictions will be rescinded for all public lands administered by the BLM within the boundaries of Gunnison, Hinsdale, Saguache, San Juan, Ouray, and Montrose counties.

Rescission Order (effective September 12)

Stage 2 fire restrictions are no longer in effect for all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office within the boundaries of Gunnison, Hinsdale, Saguache, San Juan, Ouray, and Montrose counties. Stage 1 restrictions are still in effect.

Fire Prevention Order: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Rescinded

Public Land Closures

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 photos that explains what type of campfires are allowed in stage one 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 outside of developed areas — 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.