Crew conducting the Animas City Mountain prescribed fire in May 2023.

Southwest District Fire Management

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 & Notices

UNCOMPAHGRE FIELD OFFICE

July 17, 2025- Temporary Emergency Closure: There is a temporary emergency closure in place on BLM managed public lands in the Uncompahgre Field Office due to the Deer Creek Fire. This closure is in the Paradox area on the West End of Montrose County and is place to ensure public and firefighter safety.

Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place for all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office within the boundaries of Delta, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties, including Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area.

TRES RIOS FIELD OFFICE

As of July 1, 2025 stage 1 fire restrictions are in place 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 Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.

GUNNISON FIELD OFFICE

Stage 1 fire restrictions go into effect July 3 for all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Gunnison Field Office within the boundaries of Gunnison, Hinsdale, Saguache, San Juan, Ouray, and Montrose counties.

Fire Restriction Stages

All fire restrictions are in force until an order is posted to rescind them. Please contact individual field offices for more information.

Under 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.
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 operating an acetylene or other 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.

Under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, the following activities are prohibited:

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. Devices using pressurized liquid or gas are exempted.
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, building, or tent.
Using an explosive requiring fuse or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
Operating or using 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)
Operating 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.
Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame (except with a current permit, contract or letter of authorization).