Single Publication

The San Juan National Forest's prescribed fire program began its 2023 season in early May and will be continuing into June. Prescribed fires will only be ignited when all weather, fuels and smoke requirements are met.

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.

DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT:

• The Dolores ranger District is planning to conduct prescribed burns this spring if conditions are right. Burning operations will take place over multiple days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable and may continue throughout the summer and into fall based on conditions. Both hand and aerial ignition methods may be utilized, following the weather, fuel and smoke parameters stated in the prescribed fire plan. Burns planned in the Boggy Draw area may take place in mid-June, if conditions allow. This page will be updated if exact dates for burning are identified.

• Project areas identified for burn implementation are:

  • Haycamp Mesa: 10,658 acres located 10 miles east of Dolores, along the Haycamp Mesa Road, Forest Service Road (NFSR) 556 – Haycamp Mesa Units 1-7, and 9.
  • Boggy Draw: 10,082 acres located 3 to 15 miles northeast of Dolores, along the Dolores-Norwood Road near Little Bean Canyon, Boggy Draw Road NFSR 527, and Cottonwood Canyon Road NFSR 532 – Boggy Draw Units 17, 18, 20, 29-33, 45, 48, 50, 51 and 53.
  • Salter: 5,379 acres located 7 to 15 miles east of Cahone, near Salter Y and Ormiston Point Road NFSR 521 – Salter Units 26-28, 30-33, 39, 41, 43, 44, and 47,

COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT VALLECITO-PIEDRA PRESCRIBED FIRE PROJECT:

• The Columbine Ranger District has been conducting a prescribed burn across an area covering 1,300 acres in the Beaver Meadows area. Begun on May 28th and continuing on the 29th and 30th, the final 200 acres were completed on Tuesday, the 30th. This burn is part of the larger Vallecito-Piedra prescribed fire project, located approximately 10 miles northeast of Bayfield. Although active ignitions are complete, residents and travelers should expect to see smoke from time to time as unburned fuel within the project area is consumed. Firefighters will continue to secure and patrol the edges to keep fire within the prescribed boundaries. Some smoke may still settle at night into drainages and low-lying areas near the La Plata/Archuleta County line.

• The prescribed fire operations took place north of Beaver Meadows Road #135, which remains open to the public. Barriers have been removed from Jungle Canyon Road #160, Ute Park Road #133, and Rocky Canyon OHV Trail #717 but burning may still be visible from those roads and trails. Visitors should remain aware of potential hazards including fire-weakened trees and ash pits. See news release for more information: https://tinyurl.com/zhma4vz6

• Earlier in May the Columbine Ranger District completed three prescribed fire units in the Vallecito-Piedra project, covering an area of 1,112 acres.

PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT:

• The Pagosa Ranger District does not have spring prescribed fire projects planned for implementation due to wet conditions. District fire and fuels managers will reassess fuels conditions for the fall prescribed fire season.