On Monday, the Forest Service announced Stage 1 fire restrictions that will go into effect on July 1 for lower elevation areas within the San Juan National Forest.
The lower elevation areas, reffered to as “Zone 1” include portions of the national forest that border Dolores, Mancos, Durango and Pagosa Springs. Higher elevations portions of the national forest, which retain more moisture and active greenery, are excluded from the restrictions.
“Although Southwest Colorado experienced several rain events late this spring, vegetation is now drying out due to hot, dry weather, leading to wildfire conditions in the lower country that dictate the need for Stage I Fire Restrictions,“ the forest service said in their announcement.
Stage 1 fire restrictions put limitations on igniting flames, smoking, using explosives or engaging in welding or other open flame-adjacent labor.
More specific information on restrictions are available at the National Forest Service’s website.
On Wednesday afternoon, a small brush fire broke out east of Colorado Highway 145 on the northern edge of Cortez. With the Southwest well into summer’s dry heat, the brush fire is no surprise, but instead serves as a reminder that the season for wildfire risk is upon us.
With no rainfall since earlier in June and dry conditions expected to continue, Montezuma County residents are reminded of wildfire risk.
Wednesday afternoon’s small brush fire started about noon east of Colorado Highway 145 on County Road P and spread to no more than a third of an acre before being extinguished by about 1:30 p.m., said Cortez Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Cory Elliot.
Both the Cortez and Dolores Fire Protection Districts responded to the scene, Elliot said. The believed cause of the fire was a bird that flew into a power line, setting off a spark, he said.
“The fuels, the grasses, the trees are drying out,” Elliot said. “We’re not getting much rain, and we’re getting more winds.”
A ban on open flames has been in effect in Dolores since Monday, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe entered into Stage 1 fire restrictions May 2. However, neither Cortez, Mancos, the San Juan National Forest nor the Tres Rios Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management have such ongoing orders.
Although winds have reached 35 mph in recent days, winds are expected to remain below 25 mph, said Jim Andrus, a weather watcher in Cortez for the National Weather Service. Thursday evening, the humidity level in Cortez was 7%, according to the National Weather Service
Although the typically dry month of June surpassed its average rate of rainfall this year, the remainder of the month has been markedly dry.
“Somebody upstairs turned off the spigot again,” Andrus said.
Next week’s forecast doesn’t have any rain, Andrus said, putting off the anticipated monsoon season of July through September for a little longer.
“Fire weather conditions are very prominent right now,” he said.
