San Juan NF Prescribed Fire Program

Image options: [ Full Size ]

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. 

Columbine Ranger District's Vallecito-Piedra units:
 

VP1A NW (1318 acres) 

VP1B (672 acres)

VP1C (295 acres) 

VP2D (181 acres) 

Dolores Ranger District:
The most likely order of prescribed burns is as follows, depending on weather conditions:

1st Boggy Draw: 4331 total acres 

-Units 17: 346 acres, 18: 335 acres, 20: 454 acres 

2nd Haycamp Mesa: 4586 total acres 

-Unit 9: 703 acres 

3rd Boggy Draw 

-Unit 32 340 acres , Unit 45: 1200 acres. 

4th Haycamp Mesa

-Unit 6 2322 acres, Unit 5 1561 acres 

5th Salter: 3013 total acres 

- Units 43: 241 acres, 44: 399 acres, 31: 467 acres, 32: 340 acres, 39: 299 acres, 41: 550 acres, 47: 717 acres. 

Total acre potential for Dolores Ranger District: 11,930 

 

Pagosa Springs Ranger District:
 

The District will burn 1,042 acres in Brockover-Devil Creek burn plan, as conditions allow. Units 5, 8 and B will be include in 2022. 
 

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 specific Fuels Management Staff at:

• Columbine Ranger District (970) 884-2512

• Dolores Ranger District (970) 882-7296

• Pagosa Ranger District (970) 264-2268