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

Upper Colorado River District Fire Restrictions

map of colorado with fire unit boundaries

Current Fire Restrictions

In accordance with Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 9212.2(a), BLM implements the fire restrictions detailed below. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the regulations at § 9212.1 of this title shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both.

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

Colorado River Valley Field Office

Currently, there are no fire restrictions for the Colorado River Valley Field Office. 

Grand Junction Field Office

Currently, there are no fire restrictions for the Grand Junction Field Office. 

Public Land Closures

Colorado River Valley Field Office 

There are currently no BLM public land closures in the Colorado River Valley Field Office.

Grand Junction Field Office

There are currently no BLM public land closures in the Grand Junction Field Office.

 

 

Year-round Wildfire Prevention Restrictions

Unless permitted in writing by an authorized officer, visitors to BLM-managed public lands are prohibited from:

  • Leaving a fire unattended or unextinguished.
  • Possessing, discharging or using fireworks of any kind.
  • Discharging a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition.
  • Burning, igniting, or causing to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material.

  • Operating any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester pursuant to 43 CFR 8343.1 (c).

     

District Specific Fire Restrictions

STAGE 1

In addition to year-round wildfire prevention restrictions the following are not allowed: 

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

In addition to year-round wildfire prevention restrictions, stage 1 fire restrictions, the following are not allowed:

  • 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. 

 

Tips for Preventing Wildfires: 

  • Keep campfires small and under control.
  • Ensure that campfires are dead out. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
  • Keep a shovel and water nearby to douse escaped embers.
  • Do not park or idle vehicles in tall dry grass. The heat from the vehicle can spark a wildfire.
  • Do not allow chains to drag from vehicles or towed trailers.
  • Fireworks are never allowed on federally managed lands.