County fire ban holds as forest and BLM lift restrictions
Unincorporated Montezuma County and the Town of Dolores remain under bans dating to May, even as the San Juan National Forest, BLM and two tribes lifted theirs in mid-September.
Fire restrictions across the Four Corners came apart in pieces this month, and what is allowed now depends entirely on whose land you are standing on.
Unincorporated Montezuma County remains under a fire ban that took effect May 28, according to the county’s fire restriction page. The Town of Dolores has had a burn ban in place since the same date, under Ordinance 536.
Several neighboring jurisdictions went the other way in mid-September. The San Juan National Forest and the BLM’s Tres Rios Field Office both lifted all restrictions on September 16, as did unincorporated Dolores County. The Southern Ute Tribe lifted its restrictions on September 17.
Others sit in between. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is under Stage 1 restrictions. Mesa Verde National Park keeps Stage 1 restrictions in place year round. The Town of Mancos allows no open fires or fireworks.
In the City of Cortez, open fires are allowed by permit only. The Planning and Building Department handles permits at 970-564-4016.
The county’s advice for everyone, restrictions or not: use caution with anything that could throw a spark.
Current restrictions by jurisdiction are posted on the Montezuma County fire restriction page.