BLM Prescribed Burns Near Rabbit Mountain Extend Into Dolores County

The Bureau of Land Management and the Southwest Colorado Fire and Aviation Management Unit carried out prescribed-fire operations this week at Rabbit Mountain, Dawson, and Summit Point, with additional burns planned across Dolores County beginning April 15 that will treat thousands of acres of pinyon, juniper, and ponderosa pine through May 2026.

The BLM Tres Rios Field Office plans to burn up to 885 acres of pinyon, juniper, and mixed mountain shrub within the Dawson Project Area, which straddles San Miguel and Dolores counties roughly 13 miles east-northeast of Dove Creek and 10 miles east of Egnar. Crews will also continue treating up to 1,900 acres of ponderosa pine and Gambel oak within the West Dolores Rim Project Area, located about seven miles east of Dove Creek and known locally as the "East and North Pines." A BLM press release cited an aggregated figure of approximately 2,285 acres for the overall southwestern Colorado effort; project-level totals from the Tres Rios Field Office sum to up to 2,785 acres across the two main project areas. The agency did not reconcile the difference in the available materials.

The West Dolores Rim area has prior momentum behind it. Last year, several project units there were successfully treated and are already showing signs of improved habitat, according to the Tres Rios Field Office.

"Both project areas have detailed prescribed burn plans outlining specific parameters that must be met to ensure the burn is controlled successfully," said Tyler Corbin, acting BLM Fire Management Specialist. "We will continue to monitor weather conditions and air quality to minimize the potential for smoke impacts on the health and safety of our communities and fire resources."

Beyond Dolores County, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service plans to treat areas across Dolores, San Miguel, and La Plata counties from now through May 2026. In La Plata County, operations are planned in the Rabbit Mountain area south of County Road 502, approximately five miles northeast of Bayfield. The Dawson operations in Dolores County are positioned south of Disappointment Valley, approximately 17 miles northeast of Dove Creek. The West Rim area sits approximately seven miles northeast of Dove Creek and four miles east of Highway 141.

The burns are designed to reduce hazardous fuels, improve big game and sage grouse habitat, restore fire-adapted ecosystems, and protect wildland-urban interface communities from future large wildfires. All burns will proceed only under approved burn plan parameters and favorable atmospheric conditions. The BLM obtained smoke permits from the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division identifying the conditions under which ignitions can occur, and fire personnel will remain on-site throughout operations.

Smoke may be visible during active burning, particularly in the afternoon, and could linger in low-lying areas during cooler evenings. Nearby communities may also notice residual smoke as piles smolder after ignition. The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division's website carries health guidance on prescribed fire smoke.

Project pages on InciWeb and the BLM's Southwest District Fire social media accounts will carry updates as conditions develop. For general information, contact John Wroblewski, USWFS Fire Mitigation Education Specialist, at (970) 240-5335. Media inquiries should go to Levi Spellman, Department of the Interior Public Affairs Specialist, at (719) 269-8553.