News Release Southwest District, Colorado
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2022 Contact: Deana Harms, Fire Mitigation, Education, Prevention Specialist, 970-403-5576
BLM Rescinds Fire Restrictions in Gunnison, Tres Rios, and Uncompahgre Field Offices
MONTROSE, Colo. – Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands administered by the Gunnison, Tres Rios and Uncompahgre Field Offices rescind fire restrictions on July 1, 2022, except for the annual restriction for Durango Special Recreation Management Area within Durango city limits and La Plata County to include the BLM lands of Grandview, Animas City Mountain, and Skyline areas. The rescinded orders apply to the public land managed by BLM within the boundaries of Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, La Plata, Montrose, Montezuma, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel and portions of Hinsdale and Saguache counties, including Canyon of the Ancients, Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, and the Uncompahgre Field Office side of Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area.
“The recent rains have lowered fire danger indices within the Southwest District and the area is forecasted to receive more in coming weeks,” said Southwest District Fire Management Officer Brandon Lewis. “We ask the public to continue exercising safe practices and recreate responsibly on public lands to prevent wildfires.”
Visitors are encouraged to practice these outdoor fire safety principles:
• Make a fire only if you have sufficient water to put it out completely and a shovel.
• Clear all flammable material within three feet of campfire rings.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Keep fires small and manageable.
• Extinguish fires completely using the water, stir, water repeat method. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. Every campfire should be cold before leaving it.
Fire restrictions on these lands will be rescinded at 12:01 a.m., MDT, Friday, July 1, 2022. Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands. More information about fire prevention is available at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/get-involved/fire-prevention. For West Slope Fire Information visit https://westslopefireinfo.com.
-BLM-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
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