Forest Service News Release

Media Contacts:
Sabrina Kohrt
720-601-0756
Sabrina.kohrt@usda.gov

Fire Restrictions to be lifted on San Juan National Forest effective August 31st

Fire Officials ask public to continue to practice fire safety and awareness

DURANGO, Colo., August 29th, 2023 – Fire restrictions on all National Forest System lands
within the San Juan National Forest, including wilderness, will be rescinded – effective 12:01am
Thursday, August 31st. Recent rains over the Forest have lessened the risk of wildland fire,
allowing restrictions to be lifted. This means campfires are now allowed outside of established
Forest Service campgrounds and recreation sites on the San Juan National Forest.

However, rescinding fire restrictions does not mean that fire danger has been eliminated.
Lightning fires are reported frequently from the Durango Interagency Dispatch Center, even in
higher elevation areas where more rain has fallen. Precipitation has not reached all parts of the
San Juan National Forest evenly, meaning fuels in some areas are still dry. The Forest may
return to restrictions if conditions dry out late this summer and into fall.

Visitors are encouraged to practice these principles of outdoor fire safety:

· Clear all flammable material within three feet of campfire rings
· Make a fire only if you have a shovel and sufficient water to put it out
· Never leave a fire unattended
· Keep fires small and manageable
· Extinguish fires completely. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. Every campfire should
be put DEAD OUT before leaving it

For more information about the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest
website, or follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook).

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