United States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs Southern Ute Agency
Branch of Fire Management
Due to a historically low winter snowpack and recent hot, dry, and windy conditions, Stage I fire restrictions will be implemented for all trust lands throughout the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The overall drought condition creates the potential for large fire development, and any ignition could grow rapidly. Fire Restrictions for the General Public include:
- OPEN BURNING. Burning of trash and/or yard waste is prohibited.
- AGRICULTURAL BURNING. Burning of crop land, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning and weed burning are prohibited.
- CAMPFIRES. Building, maintaining or using a warming fire or campfire outside of officially designated or developed camp sites is prohibited. The fire restrictions do not include charcoal fires (in suitable containers) for barbeques or fires for sweat ceremonies, however, such fires are not to be left unattended and are to be fully extinguished after use.
- FIREWORKS. Possession, discharging or use of any type of fireworks is prohibited.
Commercial and Industrial restrictions can be obtained from the BIA Fire Office at 575 County Road 517, Ignacio, CO 81137. 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 Friday, May 22, 2026 and will remain until conditions improve.
