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

July 2, 2026: 12:01 a.m. - Stage 2 fire restrictions in effect on all BLM-administered public lands within the Uncompahgre Field Office jurisdiction.

June 12, 2026, 12:01 a.m. - Stage 1 fire restrictions in effect for all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office within the boundaries of Montrose, Delta, Mesa, Gunnison, Ouray and San Miguel counties.

TRES RIOS FIELD OFFICE

July 22, 2026 12:01 a.m. - Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will be lifted on BLM-administered public lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office, including Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, or until rescinded.

July 2, 2026: 12:01 a.m. - Stage 2 fire restrictions in effect on all BLM-administered public lands within the Tres Rios Field Office jurisdiction.

May 29, 2026, 12:01 a.m. - The Tres Rios Field Office is in stage 1 fire restrictions for all BLM-administered public lands within the boundaries of Archuleta, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties, and the of Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.

GUNNISON FIELD OFFICE

July 2, 2026: 12:01 a.m. - Stage 2 fire restrictions in effect on all BLM-administered public lands within the Gunnison Field Office jurisdiction.

June 18, 2026, 12:01 a.m. - Stage 1 fire restrictions in effect on all BLM‑administered public lands within Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, Saguache, and San Juan counties.

Public Land Closures

UNCOMPAHGRE FIELD OFFICE

June 30, 2026: The Bureau of Land Management has issued temporary emergency closures for specific public lands in Ouray County, effective immediately, to support wildfire response efforts and protect public safety.

The following public lands are closed to all public entry and use until further notice: BLM-administered public lands bounded by U.S. Highway 550 to the west, Ouray County Road 10 to the north, and the Bear Creek National Recreation Trail/Ridge Stock Driveway to the south.

TRES RIOS FIELD OFFICE

July 29, 2026: The Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office has rescinded the remaining emergency closure associated with the Ferris Fire, reopening all previously closed BLM-administered public lands in Dolores County effective July 29. The final area to reopen includes BLM-administered public lands bounded by Dolores County Road 9.7 to the south, State Highway 491 to the east, Dolores River Canyon to the west and Dolores County Road T to the north, including the Bradfield Bridge Recreation Site.

News Announcement (official recission available at this link as well)

July 22, 2026: With the Ferris Fire approaching 100% containment, the BLM is also reducing most emergency public land closures in Dolores County. All previous Ferris Fire closure areas on BLM-administered public lands within the Tres Rios Field Office have been reopened, except for a smaller area that remains closed to support ongoing fire management and protect public and firefighter safety. The remaining closure includes BLM-administered public lands in the vicinity of the Dolores River Canyon and Bradfield Bridge Recreation Site.

July 10, 2026: The July 2 temporary emergency closure has been expanded to include these additional public lands in Dolores County: All BLM-administered public lands south of the Dolores/San Miguel County line, east of State Highway 141, and north of County Road H.6.

July 2, 2026: The June 30 temporary emergency closure has been expanded to include these additional public lands in Dolores County: all BLM-administered public lands south of the Dolores/San Miguel County line, east of County Roads 9.7 to 9.9, State Highway 491, and County Road T. This expanded area includes all BLM lands on the west side of the Dolores River Canyon.

June 30, 2026: The Bureau of Land Management has issued temporary emergency closures for specific public lands in Dolores County, effective immediately, to support wildfire response efforts and protect public safety.

The following roads and public lands are closed to all public entry and use until further notice: Black Snag Road (Road 512), Narraguinnep Road (Road 240), County Road 29, Bradfield Bridge Recreation Site, and BLM-administered public lands bounded by County Road D to the south, County Road 31 to the west, Forest Road 514 to the north, County Road 29 to the east.

GUNNISON FIELD OFFICE

July 29: 2026: The BLM Gunnison Field Office has rescinded the previous Elk Fire closure order and reopened areas that are no longer needed for fire management. A smaller closure remains in place until further notice to support ongoing operations and rehabilitation work and to help protect the public and firefighters.

The remaining closure includes BLM-administered public lands west of Colorado State Highway 149, including the Independence Gulch Trailhead, as well as public lands between Hinsdale County Road 20 and the U.S. Forest Service boundary. The closure begins at, but does not include, Nellie Creek Road, follows County Road 20 west to County Road 24 at Capitol City, and continues northwest along County Road 24 to the U.S. Forest Service boundary. A map is available for visual reference.

News Announcement (official closure order and map available at this link as well)

July 16, 2026: -The Gunnison Field Office is implementing a temporary emergency closure for public lands within Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties. This closure is enacted to protect the safety of the public and firefighters in connection with the Elk Fire, as well as to support the management and suppression rehabilitation efforts related to this incident.

The temporary emergency closure applies to BLM-administered public lands within the Gunnison Field Office, specifically in areas east and west of Colorado State Highway 149 and north of Hinsdale County Road 20. This closure is in addition to existing closures and restrictions currently in place.

July 2, 2026: The Bureau of Land Management has issued additional temporary emergency closures for specific public lands in Gunnison and Dolores counties to support wildfire response efforts and protect public safety.

Effective immediately, the following roads and public lands are closed to all public entry and use until further notice: Gunnison County (Gold Mountain Fire area; Gunnison Field Office): The area within the Gold Mountain Fire Evacuation Zone 33; and, Horse Creek, Van Boxel Creek, Little Cimmaron River, and Big Blue Creek.

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

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.