map of colorado with fire unit boundaries

 

Upper Colorado River District Fire Restrictions

Fire management in Colorado is an interagency partnership among federal, state and local entities. BLM-managed lands within Colorado are broken into four Interagency Fire Management Units: Northwest Colorado Fire Unit in Craig, Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Unit in Grand Junction, Southwest District Fire Unit in Montrose and Front Range District Fire Unit in Canon City.

Public Land Closures

(Aug. 8, 2025)  

Effective immediately, in the interest of public safety, certain public lands managed by BLM Grand Junction Field Office in Mesa County are temporarily closed because of fire activity in the area. The order will remain in effect until the Turner Gulch Fire is declared controlled or until this order is rescinded. This emergency closure is necessary to ensure public and firefighter safety during firefighting activities and initial suppression rehabilitation efforts. Please see the closure order, news release and map for additional details.

Notice of Public Closure

Area Closure Map

News Release

 

(Aug. 11, 2025)

Effective immediately, in the interest of public safety, certain public lands managed by BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office in Garfield County are temporarily closed because of fire activity in the area. The order will remain in effect until the Lee Fire is declared controlled or until this order is rescinded. This emergency closure is necessary to ensure public and firefighter safety during firefighting activities and initial suppression rehabilitation efforts. Please see the closure order, news release and map for additional details.

Notice of Public Closure

Area Closure Map

News Release

 

Current Fire Restrictions

Colorado River Valley Field Office: Stage 2

All public lands in this field office will enter stage 2 fire restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. Aug. 8. 

signed fire prevention order (pdf)

 

Grand Junction Field Office: Stage 2

All public lands in this field office will enter stage 2 fire restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. July 17.

signed fire prevention order (pdf)

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
  • 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.