View above the Black Fire on May 16, 2022 (National Wildfire Coordinating Group)
View above the Black Fire on May 16, 2022 (National Wildfire Coordinating Group)

The Bureau of Land Management on Saturday announced that Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect Monday for all public lands administered by the office in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, and Montezuma counties and in the northwest portion of Montrose County and western half of San Miguel County.

The restrictions include Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The Ute Mountain Ute reservation started Stage 1 restrictions on July 5.

The restrictions align with local orders and guidelines to protect the public’s safety during high fire danger, according to the news release from the Tres Rios Field Office.

“Increasingly dry conditions and high fire danger require the Tres Rios Field Office to implement Stage 1 fire restrictions,” said Derek Padilla, Tres Rios field manager. “We ask the public to please abide by these restrictions and remember that fireworks are always prohibited on public lands.”

Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, the following acts are prohibited:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire except within agency-provided fire grates at developed recreation sites. Devices using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted.Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.Operating a chain saw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and working, a chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity by weight and one round-point hovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches.Using a welder, either arc or gas or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame, except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter with a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than 8 ounces capacity.Using exploding targets.

Stage 1 fire restrictions become effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday and will be kept in place until further notice.

The news release reminded the community that violations of these federal fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of $1,000 maximum or imprisonment for 12 months maximum or both.

Additionally, those found responsible for starting wildfires will have to cover restitution costs of suppressing the fire.

More information about fire prevention is available online at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/get-involved/fire-prevention.

Fire prevention notices for the BLM Southwest District are posted online at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/colorado/southwest-district.