For Immediate Release: Southern Ute Reservation to initiate Stage II Fire Restrictions  

Due to the continued drought, extremely dry fuel conditions and the occurrence of recent large wildland fires, Stage II fire restrictions will be implemented for all trust lands throughout the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Everyone on reservation land is asked to be very cautious and use common sense with fire this time of year.

Stage II Fire Restrictions prohibits acts for the general public, commercial operators and industrial oil and gas operators performing work on the Southern Ute Reservation.

The following acts are prohibited for the general public on reservation lands:

STAGE I

General Public:

Prohibited acts: 

1. OPEN BURNING.  Burning of trash and/or yard waste is prohibited.
2. AGRICULTURAL BURNING.  Burning of crop land, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning and weed burning are prohibited.
3. CAMPFIRES.  Building, maintaining or using a warming fire or campfire outside of officially designated or developed camp sites is prohibited.  Charcoal broilers and wood and coal stoves used outside of dwellings are classified as campfires and prohibited. Fires for ceremonial sweats are allowed upon notification of the local fire authority and/or BIA Fire office and approval from them.
4. FIREWORKS.  Possession, discharging or use of any type or fireworks is prohibited.
5. SMOKING.  Smoking is restricted to designated areas, within structures or within vehicles equipped with ashtrays.
6. OPERATING EQUIPMENT.  Operating or using any internal combustion engine (chainsaws, generators, etc) without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order. 

STAGE II

Commercial Operators (logging, thinning, firewood gathering, etc.):

7.  All Prohibited Acts included for Stage I.
8.  All field personnel shall carry local emergency dispatch phone numbers with them at all times.   All fires must be reported to local emergency dispatch immediately.
9.  “Hoot-Owl” is in effect.  Operating or using any internal combustion engine between the hours of 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM local time is prohibited.
10.  Motorized vehicle travel off developed roads is prohibited during the same “Hoot-Owl” period.
11.  A patrol is required for a period of two hours after cessation of activities.  The patrol is responsible for watching for emerging fires, reporting fires and initiating initial suppression.

Industrial restrictions are attached and also can be obtained from the BIA Fire Office at 575 County Road 517.

Anyone violating the provisions of this fire ban may be subject to prosecution outlined in the Southern Ute Indian Criminal Code.

The Restrictions will become effective at 0600 on August 8, 2025, and will remain until conditions improve.