Environment

San Juan National Forest to Conduct Prescribed Fires

Thursday, October 1, 2026

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🤖 By Aiden

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San Juan National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending approvals and favorable weather conditions. The program aims to reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen wildfire risk, and restore ponderosa pine ecosystems.

The Columbine Ranger District will begin prescribed fires as early as mid-October, with smoke visible from Arboles, Bayfield, and Pagosa Springs. Daytime smoke is expected to travel north/northeast, while nighttime smoke will move downslope into Piedra and Pine River drainages.

📄 Source: InciWeb Active Wildfires — http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cosjf-2026-san-juan-national-forest-prescribed-fire-program

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San Juan National Forest to Conduct Prescribed Fires“San Juan National Forest plans fall prescribed fires: The San Juan National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending all required approvals and favorable environmental conditions.”
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Fall prescribed fire program begins mid-October in Colorado's San Juan National Forest, affecting areas near Bayfield and Pagosa Springs.“Columbine Ranger District:Beginning as early as mid-October, the Columbine Ranger District will begin the following prescribed fire projects. Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. 160 and CO 151 corridors near those towns.”
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San Juan National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending approvals and favorable weather conditions. The program aims to reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen wildfire risk, and restore ponderosa pine ecosystems.“San Juan National Forest plans fall prescribed fires: The San Juan National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending all required approvals and favorable environmental conditions. Find the project maps on the map tab above. We estimate this work to continue through the fall as weather conditions allow. While the summer was hot and dry, fall has brought cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and rain. Prescribed fires are often implemented on the cusp of wildfire season to effectively consume the targeted vegetation. The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which historically experienced frequent, low intensity fires on a large scale. 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. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees.”
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The Columbine Ranger District will begin prescribed fires as early as mid-October, with smoke visible from Arboles, Bayfield, and Pagosa Springs. Daytime smoke is expected to travel north/northeast, while nighttime smoke will move downslope into Piedra and Pine River drainages.“Columbine Ranger District:Beginning as early as mid-October, the Columbine Ranger District will begin the following prescribed fire projects. Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. 160 and CO 151 corridors near those towns. Daytime smoke is expected to travel to the north/northeast. Nighttime smoke is expected to travel downslope into the Piedra and Pine River drainages.”

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COSJF 2026 San Juan National Forest Prescribed Fire Program

Last updated: 2026-09-17 --- The type of incident is Prescribed Fire and involves the following unit(s) San Juan National Forest. --- State: Colorado --- Coordinates: Latitude: 37° 16 24.2796 Longitude: 107° 53 34.8822 --- NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations. --- Incident Overview: San Juan National Forest plans fall prescribed fires:&nbsp;The San Juan National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending all required approvals and favorable environmental conditions. Find the project maps on the map tab above. We estimate this work to continue through the fall as weather conditions allow. While the summer was hot and dry, fall has brought cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and rain. Prescribed fires are often implemented on the cusp of wildfire season to effectively consume the targeted vegetation.&nbsp;The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which historically experienced frequent, low intensity fires on a large scale. 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. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit&nbsp;Wood smoke and your health.Columbine Ranger District:Beginning as early as mid-October, the Columbine Ranger District will begin the following prescribed fire projects.&nbsp;Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. 160 and CO 151 corridors near those towns.&nbsp;Daytime smoke is expected to travel to the north/northeast. Nighttime smoke is expected to travel downslope into the Piedra and Pine River drainages.Vallecito-Piedra Prescribed Fire:&nbsp;This project includes 3 units totaling approximately 3,200 acres along Beaver Meadows Road (NFSR 135), 8 miles northeast of Bayfield in both La Plata and Archuleta Counties.Southern HDs Prescribed Fire:&nbsp;This&nbsp;project is approximately 2,000 acres&nbsp;in&nbsp;the Fosset Gulch area (NFSR 613), west of Chimney Rock National Monument in Archuleta County.Pagosa Ranger District:Beginning in mid-October, the Pagosa Ranger District plans to implement multiple prescribed fire projects in Archuleta County. Smoke will be visible from U.S. 160, U.S. 84, County Road 600, downtown, Pagosa Lakes, Loma Linda, Rio Blanco, Alpine Lakes Ranch and Chromo Areas.Blanco Navajo Prescribed Fire: The three units at Kenny Flats, roughly 14 miles southeast of Pagosa Springs, total 981 acres. These units have undergone mechanical fuels reduction, and the slash piles were burned in February 2026. This prescribed fire treatment will further reduce small logging slash that remains.Eight Mile Prescribed Fire:&nbsp;This project includes four units for a total of 579 acres located six miles south of Pagosa Springs. This prescribed fire will be cleaning up slash and debris left over from mastication work completed in 2022, as well as thinning work from 2023.Brockover-Devil Prescribed Fire: This multi-year project is expected to continue this fall, located in the Turkey Springs area near Hatcher neighborhood and south of Dunagan Canyon on NFSR 630. Three units are tentatively planned for a total of 1,313 acres. This prescribed fire work is building on the success of past thinning and chipping operations completed in 2007, as well as previous broadcast prescribed fires.Dolores Ranger District:&nbsp;The Dolores Ranger District is planning prescribed fire operations this October. Smoke will be visible from U.S. Highways 160 and 491, and CO 184.Boggy Draw Prescribed Fire:&nbsp;This project includes eight units totaling 3,133 acres in Montez