San Juan NF Prescribed Fire Program

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The San Juan National Forest Fuels Management Staff are planning several prescribed burns this spring. Operations began in April and could continue through May. Prescribed fire projects are weather dependent and may take several weeks to complete. Burning operations will be conducted by U.S. Forest Service personnel assisted by fire resources from cooperating agencies. Reintroduction of 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 ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees. 
  
The Dolores Ranger District is planning to conduct several prescribed burns starting in April that may continue throughout the summer and into fall. Project areas identified for burn implementation are: Haycamp Mesa (5,131 acres located 10 miles east of Dolores). Boggy Draw (5,041 acres located 3 to 15 miles northeast of Dolores). Salter (3,904 acres located 7 to 15 miles east of Cahone). Boggy Draw and Haycamp Mesa projects are both tentatively scheduled for the week of May 2nd.
 

The Pagosa Ranger District is planning to burn approximately 600 acres in the Brockover Mesa/Turkey Springs area this spring. Implementation dates will depend on weather and fuels conditions, but are expected to begin on May 1.

The Columbine Ranger District completed a 1,051-acre prescribed burn in early April in the Beaver Meadows/First Notch areas of the San Juan NF. The Vallecito-Piedra prescribed fire encompasses a total of approximately 3,500 acres between Beaver Creek Road and First Notch Road, north of Highway 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. The remaining acres are planned for Autumn of 2021.
 

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For information, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

For additional information on planned pile burns, please contact the specific Fuels Management Staff at:

• Columbine Ranger District (970) 884-2512

• Dolores Ranger District (970) 882-7296

• Pagosa Ranger District (970) 264-2268