Single Incident Information

*Prescribed Fire April 23 in Sauls Creek: See Columbine Ranger District below for details*

The San Juan National Forest has wrapped up winter pile burning and is planning the 2024 broadcast prescribed fire season. Fire Officials will begin performing prescribed fires as weather, fuel, and fire resources permit. 

The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which historically experienced frequent, low intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime and increases the area on our landscape that has been burned at low and moderate conditions.

Reintroduction of prescribed fire is necessary to improve and restore vegetative conditions. This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees.

2024 Broadcast Prescribed Fire Plans:

COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT (see news release for details):

• Vallecito Piedra 1,135 Acres
  • April 21: Firefighters burned 213 acres in the Wickenson East unit of the Vallecito-Piedra Project (see news release and map above for details). Smoke will be visible throughout the week when moisture is expected to move in.
• Sauls Creek 1,640 Acres
  • April 23: Firefighters are planning to burn multiple units of the Sauls Creek area on Tuesday, April 22. (see news release and map above for details). No road closures will be in effect, but Fire Managers are asking visitors to avoid the area for firefighter and public safety.

DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT:

• Haycamp Mesa 4,583 Acres
• Salter 2,943 Acres
• Boggy Draw 7,615 Acres (see news release) (closure order)

PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT (see news release for details):

• Brockover-Devil Creek 2,100 Acres

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2023/24 Winter Pile Burning Accomplishments: 

DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT:

Smoke may be visible from State Highway 184, State Highway 145, and U.S. Route 491.

• Haycamp Mesa area (427 acres, 750 piles) near FSRs 556 and 492, south of Beef Pasture Reservoir
• Taylor Mesa area (145 acres, 44 piles) near FSRs 545 and 692
• Salter area (321 acres, 267 piles) near FSRs 514, 504, 519 and 293, northwest of Salter Y
• Lake Canyon area (518 acres, 336 piles) near FSRs 506, 504, 508, 514, 215, and 216 near Cow Canyon 

COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT:

• Sauls Creek (110 acres, 1800 piles) near FS roads 755, 755.A, 131, and 131.C 
• Junction Creek (90 acres, 75 piles) near FS road 171, in the Log Chutes trail area 
• Fossett Gulch (40 acres, 100 piles) near FS roads 613 and 841
• Baldy Mountain (623 acres, 60 slash piles) off of Beaver Meadows Road 

PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT:

• Lower portion of Turkey springs Road (FSR 629) near the powerlines
• Turkey Springs Road near the Turkey Springs Guard Station 
• Brockover Road (FSR 919), Buckles Lake Road (FSR 633)
• Huerto Creek timber sale between Piedra Road (FSR 621) and Poison Park Road (FSR 644)