San Juan National Forest will begin broadcast prescribed fire projects as early as March, 2026. Project operations take place in spring and fall.
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. These efforts reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine 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 more information, visit Wood smoke and your health.
March 28-29:
The Columbine Ranger District is planning to burn three units of the Sauls Creek Prescribed Fire Project, totaling 255 acres. A moist weather system is expected to move into the area, making conditions for prescribed fire ideal. Satuday, firefighters will burn one unit that is roughly 100 acres, and Sunday, they will burn two additional units for 155 additional acres. These units first saw prescribed fire in 2014, and a portion of it was subsequently logged in 2022. Slash piles resulting from the logging operations were burned in December, 2022. This broadcast prescribed fire project will now follow up on these prior fuels treatments and the overarching strategy to reduce fire risk to adjacent communities.
Columbine Ranger District:
Beginning in late March, the Columbine Ranger District will begin the following prescribed fire projects as conditions allow. Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns.
- Sauls Creek: This project includes multiple potential units totaling approximately 900 acres. This project is located in Sauls Creek near NFSR 608, east of Bayfield and south of Highway 160 in La Plata County. This project is part of a larger fuels reduction strategy that has included commercial logging and other fuels reduction work.
- Southern HDs Prescribed Fire: This project is approximately 2,000 acres in the Fosset Gulch area (NFSR 613), west of Chimney Rock National Monument in Archuleta County. Units will be burned using ground ignitions and possibly unmanned aircraft systems (drones) as well. In past years the Columbine District burned adjacent units to help reduce wildfire risk to local homes and infrastructure.
Pagosa Ranger District:
Beginning in early April, the Pagosa Ranger District plans to implement multiple prescribed fire projects in Archuleta County as weather and conditions allow.
- Brockover-Devil Prescribed Fire: This 2,100-acre project area consists of "maintenance" burning, further reducing ground and ladder fuels. This treatment will build on the 2025 fall prescribed fire operations in the area and complement numerous mastication, thinning, and timber harvest treatments. These units are located along NFSR 629 and 923, west of Pagosa Springs and north of Highway 160.
- Echo Canyon Prescribed Fire: This 1,139-acre project is located along NFSR 029 southeast of Pagosa Springs and east of Highway 84. In 2018, this project area was the site of commercial thinning, followed by mastication work in 2021 and prescribed fire in 2023. This year, the District hopes to conduct a "maintenance" burn to maximize fuel reduction benefits.
- Eight Mile Mesa Prescribed Fire: This project is located on Eight Mile Mesa (NFSR 651), south of Pagosa Springs and west of Highway 84. 275 acres will be burned to clean up slash and forest litter following a 2022 oak mastication project as well as other hazardous fuels and timber harvest activities.
Dolores Ranger District:
The Dolores Ranger District plans to begin prescribed fire implementation in early April. During burning operations, smoke may be visible around Mancos, Dolores, Dove Creek, Cortez, and Highway 491 between Dove Creek and Pleasant View. Smoke may settle into low lying valleys and the Dolores River Canyon overnight.
- Salter-Carlyle Prescribed Fire: This project is located 15 miles east of Cahone, near Salter Y along NFSR 510 in Montezuma and Dolores Counties.
- Boggy Draw Prescribed Fire: This 4,107-acre project is located 4-8 miles northeast of Dolores in Montezuma County, along NFSR 526 and 527. Smaller units of this overall project will be implemented as weather and conditions allow (see map).
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2025/26 Winter Pile Burning Accomplishments:
Columbine Ranger District:
- Junction Creek Road, 32 piles, 15 acres.
- Ellington Lane, 100 piles, 4 acres.
Pagosa Ranger District:
- Huerto, 183 acres.
- Mariposa, 439 acres.
- Lower Turkey, 12 acres.
- Valle Seco, 26 acres.
- Buckles Lake Road, 13 acres.
- Kenny Flat, 128 acres.
Dolores Ranger District:
- Glade, 231 piles, 652 acres.
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2025 Broadcast Burning Accomplishments:
Dolores Ranger District:
- Boggy Draw, 1,579 acres
- Haycamp Mesa, 1,657 acres
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2024/25 Winter Pile Burning Accomplishments
Dolores Ranger District
- Haycamp Mesa, 250 acres, 800 piles
- Taylor Mesa, 390 acres, 134 piles
Pagosa Ranger District
- Brockover-Devil, 490 acres
- Kenney Flats, 30 acres
- Quartz Piles, 20 acres
Columbine Ranger District:
- Saul’s Creek, 50 acres, 100 piles
- Fossett Gulch, 17 acres, 100 piles
- Baldy Mountain, 117 acres, 10 piles
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2024 Broadcast Prescribed Fire Accomplishments:
DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT:
- Boggy Draw: 1,156 acres
- Salter Y Units 34 and 37: 1,279 acres
COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT:
- Vallecito-Piedra: 235 acres
- Saul's Creek: 1,615 acres
- Southern HDs: 1,080 acres
PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT:
- Fawn Gulch 1,100 acres
- Mill Creek: 400 acres
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