BLM enacts Stage 1 fire restrictions across western Colorado public lands

Campfires will get a lot more complicated on western Colorado BLM land as Stage 1 fire restrictions take effect Friday, June 12, at 12:01 a.m. across public lands in Montrose, Delta, Mesa, Gunnison, Ouray and San Miguel counties. The change hits the Uncompahgre country just as summer traffic builds, and it immediately tightens how campers, overlanders and dispersed users can run a trip.

Under the order, campfires are allowed only in agency-provided fire grates at developed campgrounds and recreation sites. Gas and liquid-fuel stoves remain permitted, so cooking does not have to stop, but the old pattern of striking a fire anywhere a site looks open is no longer legal. Smoking is limited to enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites, or outdoor areas cleared of flammable materials.

The restrictions also reach well beyond the campfire ring. Exploding targets are prohibited. Welding and torch work are banned unless the user has a required extinguisher and a cleared work area. Chainsaws must have a properly working spark arrestor, plus an extinguisher and shovel nearby. Internal combustion engines cannot be used without a functioning spark-arresting device, a rule that matters for generators, trail rigs and other gear that can turn a casual camp into a fire start.

The BLM said the move is driven by dry conditions, high fire danger and worsening fire weather conditions. That matters across a big footprint: the Uncompahgre Field Office manages nearly 680,000 acres of public land in BLM Colorado’s Southwest District, including the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The order will stay in place until rescinded or Dec. 31, 2026, whichever comes first.

For travelers, the practical read is simple: dispersed camping and backcountry access are still on the table, but trip routines need to change. Check campsite rules before rolling in, keep cooking to approved stoves, make sure spark arrestors and fire tools are in order, and treat hot, windy conditions as part of the route plan. The June 12 cutoff is another reminder that in the Uncompahgre country, fire season can rewrite the day before the first rig leaves town.