San Juan NF Prescribed Fire Program

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The San Juan National Forest Fuels Management Staff are planning pile burns this winter during optimal weather windows, primarily after snowfall.

Planned pile burns:

Dolores Ranger District

•  This Thursday, Jan 20, 2020, the Dolores Ranger District Fire and Fuels staff plan to burn slash piles near Joe Moore Reservoir. The project is situated in Montezuma County, in the Millwood/Chicken Creek area of the district, north of Mancos off FSR 559. We plan to burn 300 piles, weather and conditions permitting. Smoke will be visible from Highway 184 and Highway 160, but should stay away from populated areas. Signs will be posted to notify the public of prescribed burning activity near the treatment area.  Ignitions of the piles will not start before 9am and continue past 3pm on Thursday, January 20th. There is no need to contact dispatch about smoke seen from this prescribed burn.

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. 

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 burns, please contact the San Juan Public Affairs Officer at 970-422-2939.