After desirable burning conditions in the morning, today’s Boggy Draw Prescribed Burn was suspended when a rain shower dampened fuels. Crews were able to accomplish 70 of the planned 946-acres today, and plan to resume hand and aerial ignitions tomorrow in the unit, located in the Boggy Draw area along NFSR 527, approximately 8 miles northeast of Dolores. 

After yesterday’s successful completion on the Haycamp Mesa Prescribed Burn, Dolores Ranger District plans to prescribe burn 946 acres in the Boggy Draw area (Unit 32) on Saturday along FSR 527 and FSR 528 if conditions allow. Fire Managers plan to start ignitions around 9:00 a.m. this morning. Some fire resources will be left at the Haycamp Mesa Prescribed Burn to monitor throughout the day.

Smoke will be visible from Highways 145, 184, 160 and the surrounding communities of Dolores, Mancos and Cortez. Two operational smoke monitor devices are in Dolores and Mancos to monitor smoke levels. These monitors are required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment smoke permitting process. Fire resources are on scene, please do not report.

Fire Managers are monitoring the weather conditions on both prescribed burns units. The burn units are at a higher elevation, therefore the vegetation is not as dry and temperatures are cooler, than the surrounding areas that are expecting Red Flag Warning conditions.

For more information about the prescribed burning on the San Juan National Forest, visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6288/

 Crews successfully completed ignitions on the 1,162-acre Haycamp Mesa prescribed burn unit at 4:30 PM on May 7th and are currently patrolling the fire area. The burn was kept under control and within the unit, located in the Haycamp Mesa area along NFSR 556 and NFSR 390, approximately 10 miles east of Dolores, Colorado.

Burning operations started at 9:30 AM this morning with hand ignition operations on the perimeter of the burn unit. Once the perimeter was secured, helicopter-based aerial ignitions were used to light the interior of the unit. The Haycamp Mesa burn area is at a higher elevation, where the vegetation is not as dry and temperatures are cooler than the surrounding lower areas that are under Red Flag Warning conditions.

This prescribed burn was conducted to reintroduce fire into the Ponderosa Pine ecosystem, which reduces hazardous fuels, lessens the risk of unplanned large wildfires and improves wildlife habitat.

Smoke will continue to be visible from Highways 145, 184, 160 and the surrounding communities of Dolores, Mancos and Cortez as fuels continue to smolder and consume. Fire resources will patrol and monitor the burn during this time. Two operational smoke monitor devices are located in Dolores and Mancos to monitor smoke levels. These monitors are required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment smoke permitting process. Fire resources are on scene, please do not report.

For more information about the prescribed burning on the San Juan National Forest, visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6288/

Conditions are favorable today to conduct burning on the Haycamp Mesa prescribed burn unit. This 1,162-acre burn unit located in the Haycamp Mesa area along NFSR 556 and NFSR 390, approximately 10 miles east of Dolores, Colorado.

Fire Managers are monitoring the weather conditions on the Haycamp Mesa Prescribed Burn. Burning operations started at 9:30 AM this morning with hand ignition operations on the perimeter of the burn unit. Aerial ignition will be conducted once the perimeter is widened from burning on the Haycamp Prescribed Burn unit. The burn area is at a higher elevation, therefore the vegetation is not as dry and temperatures are cooler, than the surrounding areas that are expecting Red Flag Warning conditions.

Smoke will be visible from Highways 145, 184, 160 and the surrounding communities of Dolores, Mancos and Cortez. Two operational smoke monitor devices are in Dolores and Mancos to monitor smoke levels. These monitors are required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment smoke permitting process. Fire resources are on scene, please do not report.

For more information about the prescribed burning on the San Juan National Forest, visit InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6288/

Fire Managers on the Dolores Ranger District have been closely monitoring the weather and conditions are looking favorable to conduct a prescribed burn on a 1,162-acre unit in the Haycamp Mesa area on May 7. This prescribed burn is located approximately 10 miles east of Dolores, Colorado along the Haycamp Mesa Road (NFSR 556 & NFSR 390).

Smoke will be visible from Highways 145, 184, 160 and surrounding communities of Dolores, Mancos, and Cortez. There are two operational smoke monitor devices located in Dolores and Mancos to monitor smoke levels. These monitors are required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment smoke permitting process.

The reintroduction of prescribed fire will improve and restore vegetative conditions and reduce hazardous ground fuels in the area.

Conditions remain too damp in the Haycamp Mesa area from yesterday’s storm to meet fire managers prescribed burn objectives. The Haycamp Prescribed Burn located approximately 10 miles east of Dolores, CO along the Haycamp Mesa Road (NFSR 556) has been postponed. 

Dolores Ranger District plans to prescribe burn a 1,162-acre unit on Haycamp Mesa on May 4 if conditions allow. This prescribed burn is located approximately 10 miles east of Dolores, Colorado along the Haycamp Mesa Road (NFSR 556). Reintroducing prescribed fire will improve and restore vegetative conditions and reduce hazardous ground fuels.

Durango, Colo., April 23, 2021 — The San Juan National Forest’s Dolores and Pagosa Ranger Districts are planning to conduct prescribed fires starting the week of April 26th. Burning operations will take place over several days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable and may continue into the fall season based on conditions. Both hand and aerial ignition methods may be utilized, following the weather, fuel, and smoke parameters stated in the prescribed fire plan. Operations will be conducted by Forest Service personnel with assistance from cooperating agencies. Reintroduction of prescribed fire improves and restore vegetative conditions. This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large wildfire, and help improve ponderosa pine stands and wildlife habitat.

Dolores District Fire and Fuels Management Staff identified the following areas for prescribed fire implementation:

• Haycamp Mesa: 10 miles east of Dolores along Haycamp Mesa Road, (NFSR 556). 

• Boggy Draw: 3 to 15 miles northeast of Dolores, along the Dolores-Norwood Road near Little Bean Canyon, Boggy Draw Road (NFSR 527), and Cottonwood Canyon Road (NFSR 532).

• Salter: 7 to 15 miles east of Cahone, near Salter Y and Ormiston Point Road (NFSR 521).

Pagosa District Fire and Fuels Management Staff identified the following areas for prescribed fire implementation:

• Between Newt Jack Road (NFSR 923) and Catamount Trail (Trail 313)

• Between Turkey Springs Road (NFSR 629), south of Brockover Road (NFSR 919), and Gopher Trail (Trail 303)

Forest visitors should use caution on the trails following burn operations. Maps of the prescribed fire area and prescribed fire program news can be found on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6288/.

During burning operations in Dolores, smoke may be visible in Mancos, Dolores, Dove Creek, Cortez, and Highway 491 between Dove Creek and Pleasant View. At night, smoke may settle into low lying valleys and the Dolores River. During burning operations in Pagosa, smoke may be visible from Pagosa Springs, Highway 160, and the Chimney Rock area. At night, smoke may settle into low lying valleys, Devil Creek, and Martinez Canyon. Smoke monitoring will be conducted, and ignitions scheduled to minimize smoke impacts to communities. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. More information is at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

For more information on these prescribed fires, please contact:

• Dolores Ranger District: Acting Assistant Fire Management Officer Dan Kaufenberg at (970) 882-6834. 

• Pagosa Ranger District: Assistant Fire Management Officer Fred Ellis at (970) 264-2268. 

All offices on the San Juan National Forest are currently conducting business and providing services virtually. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook).

PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo., April 9, 2021 — The San Juan National Forest’s Pagosa Ranger District is planning to conduct a prescribed fire starting in late April. Burning operations will take place over several days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable and may continue into the fall season based on conditions. Both hand and aerial ignition methods may be utilized, following the weather, fuel, and smoke parameters stated in the prescribed fire plan. Burning operations will be conducted by Forest Service personnel with assistance from cooperating agencies.

Project areas identified for prescribed fire implementation are:

• Between Newt Jack Road (Forest Road 923) and Catamount Trail (Forest Trail 313)

• Between Turkey Springs Road (Forest Road 629), south of Brockover Road (Forest Road 919), and Gopher Trail (Forest Trail 303)

Reintroduction of prescribed 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 ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees.

During burning operations, smoke may be visible from Pagosa Springs, U.S. Highway 160, and the Chimney Rock area. Smoke may settle into low lying valleys, Devil Creek, and Martinez Canyon overnight. Smoke monitoring will be conducted, and ignitions scheduled to minimize smoke impacts to communities. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. More information can be found online: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

Forest visitors should use caution on the trails following burn operations. Maps of the prescribed fire area and additional prescribed fire program news can be found on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6288/. For more information, please contact Assistant Fire Management Officer, Fred Ellis, at 970-264-2268. 

All offices on the San Juan National Forest are currently conducting business and providing services virtually. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook).