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  • wildfire Wildfire
  • prescribed fire Prescribed Fire
  • burned area emergency response Burned Area Response
  • other type Other

2025 San Juan National Forest Prescribed Fire Program

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Unit Information

San Juan National Forest 
15 Burnett Court 
Durango, 
Colorado 
81301 
San Juan National Forest 
15 Burnett Court 
Durango, 
Colorado 
81301 

Incident Contacts

Photographs Gallery

Walking through the brush
A firefighter with a drip torch and wearing gloves and an orange hard hat is seen walking through a bushy area..
A firefighter with a drip torch and wearing gloves and an orange hard hat is seen walking through a bushy area..
Walking through the brush

A firefighter from the Columbine Ranger District moves through brush during a prescribed burn on May 30. Burns like this help thin out overgrown areas of the forest. This will make it easier for firefighters to access this area if a wildfire occurs. Burning also helps promote new forage for wildlife and livestock. 

Drip torch
A red fuel can is shown being gripped by a firefighter's hand.
A red fuel can is shown being gripped by a firefighter's hand.
Drip torch

A drip torch fuel can being prepared for use.

Staying hydrated
A firefighter in a white helmet with the words "San Juan Hot Shots" is seen taking a drink from his hydration pack.
A firefighter in a white helmet with the words "San Juan Hot Shots" is seen taking a drink from his hydration pack.
Staying hydrated

A squad from the San Juan Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) took part in the prescribed burn.

Working in thick undergrowth
A woman firefighter in a blue helmet and yellow shirt is seen in thick brush during a prescribed fire.
A woman firefighter in a blue helmet and yellow shirt is seen in thick brush during a prescribed fire.
Working in thick undergrowth

A firefighter applies fire during a prescribed burn on the San Juan National Forest May 28-30. By eliminating excess underbrush and litter, prescribed fire improves forest health by encouraging new plant growth. It also makes it a safer place to fight wildfires, if one happens here later.

Starting a prescribed fire
A firefighter with a drip torch applies fire to the ground next to a forest road.
A firefighter with a drip torch applies fire to the ground next to a forest road.
Starting a prescribed fire

A firefighter applies fire at the start of a prescribed burning operation on the San Juan National Forest May 28, 2023.

Vallecito-Piedra Prescribed Fire May 2023
prescribed fire viewed from a distance
prescribed fire viewed from a distance
Vallecito-Piedra Prescribed Fire May 2023

Vallecito-Piedra Prescribed Fire May 2023. Two units were burned for a total of 1,112 acres.

Firefighters light prescribed fire
Fire burns next to roadway
Fire burns next to roadway
Firefighters light prescribed fire

A firefighter monitors the Vallecito-Piedra prescribed fire

Vallecito-Piedra Fire Behavior
short flame lengths under forest canopy
short flame lengths under forest canopy
Vallecito-Piedra Fire Behavior

Fire behavior on the Vallecito-Piedra prescribed fire

Prescribed Fire Unmanned Aircraft System
A drone pilot prepares equipment
A drone pilot prepares equipment
Prescribed Fire Unmanned Aircraft System

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are used to ignite the Vallecito-Piedra prescribed fire

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