La Plata County Update: In the interest of public health, safety and welfare, the La Plata County Sheriff enacted Stage 2 fire restrictions effectiveFriday, June 26th in the unincorporated areas of La Plata County and upon all lands owned by La Plata County excluding those private lands in the Towns of Bayfield and Ignacio, the City of Durango, or any Federal or Tribal lands. La Plata County has been experiencing extreme, exceptional drought with low humidity and these conditions present a heightened potential for fast-moving fire behavior. More info here

National Forest Update: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect as of 6/12/2026 for the San Juan National Forest

Know Fire Restrictions

Southwest Colorado’s ecosystem is “fire-adapted,” which means that naturally-caused wildfires are not only normal, but also an important part of the ecosystem. That said, it is important to prevent human-caused fires and to keep naturally-caused fires away from people and property. Southwest Colorado’s forests are prone to natural fires (lightning-caused) and are susceptible to human-caused fires as well, even in high elevations when vegetation dries out. Fire restrictions limit campfire, smoking, and equipment use, so it is important to be aware of fire restrictions in the area you are recreating. Restrictions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, such as from County to National Forest. Fire conditions can change rapidly, just because you start camping and there is not a fire ban in place does not mean there will not be one issued later in the day.

IMPORTANT LINKS:
Readylaplata.org - Current evacuation information
San Juan National Forest - National Forest Fire Updates
LPC Restrictions Page - La Plata County Fire Restrictions
BLM Southwest District Fire Management - BLM Fire Restrictions, Closures & Notices
App.watchduty.org - Real time wild fire map

Have a Safe, Responsible Campfire

Ensure your campfire has minimal impact. If a campfire is important to you:

• Judge the wind, weather, location, and wood availability. Decide whether it’s safe and responsible to build a campfire.
• Have a container and plenty of water for extinguishing the hot ashes of your fire prepared before you ignite and enjoy your campfire.
• Keep the fire small. Small fires consume fewer resources and leave less impact, but they still provide a cozy social atmosphere desired by campfire devotees.
• To properly put out a campfire, use the "Drown, Stir, Drown, Feel" method to ensure it is completely extinguished and cold. Pour plenty of water, stir the ashes with a shovel, add more water, and check that it is cool to the touch. Never leave a fire unattended or merely covered with dirt
• There are several portable, propane (or similar) fire pit products that offer the same ambiance of a wood-burning campfire without the smoke, ashes, and wildfire risk.
   

Where Can You Have a Fire?

There are best practices for how to safely have a fire once you know there are no fire restrictions in place.

• Look for fire rings at your camp. Use an established fire ring or grate. Make sure the area around it is clear of flammable items.
• Use a stove to cook food instead of a fire
• If you do not bring your own firewood, look for dead and downed wood
• Ensure there is sufficient time to prepare the fire site
• Burn all the wood to cold ash and clean up

Other Options Instead of a Fire

Fire season heightens the importance of responsible recreation. We suggest looking at fire-free alternatives 

• LED lanterns or solar-powered lights for ambiance
• Flame-free “campfire circles” (storytelling, stargazing)
• For more alternatives read visit our Campfire Alternatives blog.

Smoke and Air Quality 

To report a wildfire, call 9-1-1. To report an illegal or unattended campfire, call non-emergency dispatch at 970-385-2900. If you are worried about air quality, visit Airnow.gov for the latest air quality measurements.

Additional Guidelines

Fire Rules to Live By:

Manage your campfire. No matter which fire-building technique you employ, the following guidelines will ensure that your fire is safe and leaves as little impact as possible:

• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Don’t try to burn trash, leftover food, or other garbage that would have to be removed later.
• Burn the wood completely to ash: Stop feeding the fire and give yourself an hour or more to add all the unburned stick ends.
• Saturate the ash with water and stir it around. Make sure it’s cool to the touch and remove any trash.
• When not using an established ring, restore the appearance of the site to where it does not look like you where there.