The Montezuma County commissioners have reinstated a fire ban in the unincorporated areas of the county.
At their meeting Tuesday, Sheriff Steve Nowlin requested the ban be put into effect. He said despite recent scattered rain showers, the area is generally dry.
Commission chair Jim Candelaria said the board was in agreement, and they voted unanimously for the ban, which takes effect at 6 a.m. Thursday.
Stage 1 fire restrictions are already in place on lower elevations of the San Juan National Forest.
The county’s press release is below:
Montezuma County Reinstates Fire Ban Effective May 28
The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners voted on May 26, 2026, to reinstate Montezuma County Ordinance 2-2015, an amended fire ban for all unincorporated areas of Montezuma County. The fire ban will take effect at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The request to reinstate the fire ban was presented during the May 26 Board of County Commissioners workshop by Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin, who serves as the County Fire Warden pursuant to Colorado state statute. The request was based on drying grass conditions, declining moisture levels in critical fuels, and ongoing severe drought conditions throughout the area.
Under the fire ban, all open fires and the use of fireworks are prohibited in unincorporated areas of Montezuma County, with the following exceptions:
- Commercial enclosed incinerators
- Residential charcoal and gas barbecue grills
- Welding or operating a torch with an open flame, provided there is:
- A 20-foot radius safe zone cleared of vegetation; and/or
- A designated fire watch individual equipped with proper hand tools and a fire extinguisher (2.5-gallon pressurized extinguisher, 5-pound ABC extinguisher, or pressurized water supply)
- Burn barrels, provided they are covered with a ¼-inch screen and located within a 20-foot radius safe zone cleared of vegetation
Violations of the ordinance are punishable by fines of up to $1,000.
This ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas of Montezuma County. Municipalities and public lands may have different fire restrictions in place.
For additional information regarding local fire restrictions, please visit the Fire Restrictions page on the Montezuma County official website.
The press release from the San Juan National Forest is below:
Durango, CO, May 20, 2026 — San Juan National Forest Fire Management Staff are implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions in lower elevations beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22 (see full Forest Order and maps for details). The minimum fine for violating campfire restrictions in Stage I is $530 in Colorado. Fire restrictions will only be implemented at lower elevations to account for variable conditions across the forest. Low elevation areas (referred to as Zone I in the Forest Order) are more susceptible to wildfire risk due to rapid vegetation curing and dry surface fuels, while higher elevation areas (Zone II) are still green and maintaining higher fuel moistures. The Stage 1 Fire Restrictions boundary is illustrated on the Forest Order maps and follows major roadways and Designated Wilderness boundaries. All San Juan NF Wilderness Areas are currently excluded from Stage I Fire Restrictions.
Although Southwest Colorado experienced several rain events late this spring, vegetation is rapidly drying out due to hot, dry weather, leading to considerable wildfire conditions in much of the lower country. Fire danger at lower elevations (below 8,000 feet) is averaged on the San Juan National Forest, where generally, peak “green up” (when grasses and shrubs reach peak moisture content) occurred around May 14. This vegetation has begun a rapid drying trend. Recent precipitation was not widespread, though it did stall the drying trend in localized areas. For example, ¼” of rain fell northwest of Dolores, allowing fire managers to conduct the Salter-Carlyle Prescribed Fire on Wednesday.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on the San Juan National Forest PROHIBIT:
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes), except if it is in:
a. A permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the U.S. Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas);
b. A device solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off used in an area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device; or
c. A fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least five feet in length and a mesh screen spark arrestor with a screen opening of a ¼ inch or less used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device.
36 CFR § 261.52(a).
2. Using an explosive. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(b)
3. Smoking is prohibited, except in an enclosed vehicle, building, or a developed recreation site, 36 CFR § 261.52(d)
4. Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame, except if in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of Class 2A) is kept with the operator. 36 CFR § 261.52(h)
Temporary restrictions will remain in place until further notice and may be increased or reduced at any time due to changes in weather and fire danger. To learn more about fire restrictions, fuels management, and other wildfire related issues, visit our fire information webpage.
Fire restrictions do not prevent wildfires—you do! It is every forest visitor’s and camper’s responsibility to follow best practices, properly maintain and extinguish campfires to prevent wildfires. Fire prevention and law enforcement will be patrolling, and anyone who violates Stage 1 restrictions will be ticketed.
To report a fire, call 9-1-1. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on Facebook.
Also on Tuesday, the Montezuma County commissioners approved a contract for up to $15,000 with USDA Wildlife Services-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to kill prairie dogs near the county courthouse in Cortez and around the county landfill.
The agency is also to deal with beavers that officials say are causing problems for the road and bridge department.
Funding is to come from three different county departments: the general fund for the courts and Sheriff’s office; the landfill’s Enterprise Fund; and the Road and Bridge fund.
Wildlife Services is a fairly controversial branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that kills or disperses millions of animals every year at the request of governmental entities or private citizens.
It also does a great deal of non-lethal wildlife management, dispersing or relocating animals.
According to information on the Wildlife Services website, in 2024 it killed about 1.9 million animals and dispersed 18.5 million.
In Colorado in 2024, Wildlife Services killed close to 10,000 animals, about 1,500 of them invasive species, according to information on the website.
Animals killed included black bears, coyotes, jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, red-tailed hawks, Western meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, and mourning doves, the website says.
