Okanogan–Omak Prescribed Fire Program Updates

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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  Spring prescribed fire operations on San Juan National Forest are complete“2026 San Juan National Forest Prescribed Fire Program Spring Prescribed Fire Operations Are Complete.”
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  Fall projects will continue as conditions allow“The prescribed fire program will continue in Fall of 2026 as conditions allow.”
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  Fall projects include Sauls Creek (900 acres)“Sauls Creek: This project area includes multiple potential units totaling approximately 900 acres. This project is located in Sauls Creek near NFSR 608, east of Bayfield and south of Highway 160 in La Plata County.”
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  Fall projects include Southern HDs (2,000 acres)“Southern HDs Prescribed Fire: This project is approximately 2,000 acres in the Fosset Gulch area (NFSR 613), west of Chimney Rock National Monument in Archuleta County.”
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  Fall projects include Brockover-Devil (2,100 acres)“Brockover-Devil Prescribed Fire: This 2,100-acre project area consists of "maintenance" burning, further reducing ground and ladder fuels. This treatment will build on the 2025 fall prescribed fire operations in the area and complement numerous mastication, thinning, and timber harvest treatments. These units are located along NFSR 629 and 923, west of Pagosa Springs and north of Highway 160. The Pagosa Ranger District completed 1,365 acres of this prescribed fire project April 23, 2026.”
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  Smoke from the projects may affect residents near Arboles“Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns.”
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  Smoke from the projects may affect residents near Bayfield“Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns.”
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  Smoke from the projects may affect residents near Pagosa Springs“Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns.”
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  Smoke from the projects may affect residents near Highway 160 corridors“Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns.”
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  The Forest Service states these efforts reduce hazardous fuels“Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime and increases the area on our landscape that has been burned at low and moderate conditions. These efforts reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat.”
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  The Forest Service states these efforts lower wildfire risks“Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime and increases the area on our landscape that has been burned at low and moderate conditions. These efforts reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat.”
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  The Forest Service states these efforts improve wildlife habitat“Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime and increases the area on our landscape that has been burned at low and moderate conditions. These efforts reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat.”