Colorado Fire Restrictions Are Changing Just in Time for Fall

It’s the first day of fall, and the change in season means a change to fire rules in Western Colorado. Following an incredibly long and trying wildfire season, rules are beginning to loosen as daytime highs bring cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and some moisture (not nearly enough).

Counties on the Western Slope have started easing fire restrictions, beginning with lifting restrictions on private property. However, there is still an important catch for anyone heading onto public lands between Grand Junction and Montrose.

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Mesa County Has Finally Lifted Its Fire Restrictions

Colorado’s Pine Gulch Fire: What Changed in 5 Years — Pine Gulch Fire - Rachel Dolan via Facebook - 1

Mesa County lifted fire restrictions on all private lands at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Checking with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, the change in season and recent rains have improved local fire conditions enough to ease the restrictions. However, they also remind residents that Mesa County remains in severe and extreme drought. Fire managers will continue to watch local conditions and reinstate restrictions at any time.

What’s Happening in Garfield, Delta and Montrose Counties?

To the North, Garfield County remained under Stage 1 restrictions until today. Stage 1 restrictions were lifted at midnight on 9/23. Campfires are safest in fire grates and in developed areas. A ban on burn permits is expected to be lifted soon.

Delta County lifted its Stage 1 restrictions Sept. 18, citing heavy rainfall, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity.

Montrose County lifted Stage 1 restrictions Sept. 16, and currently has no county fire restrictions in effect.

Are We Actually Out of Fire Season?

What Colorado’s Easing Fire Restrictions Mean for Fall — Photo by Brian Wangenheim on Unsplash

Have we reached the fire finish line? Nope. Mesa County's private-land restrictions are gone, but that does not mean all Western Colorado fire restrictions are gone. Please spread the word that the BLM's Grand Junction Field Office remains at Stage 1. This means campfires are allowed only in agency-provided fire grates at developed campgrounds and recreation sites. As conditions change, so could this status. Check back frequently with BLM for updates.

Meanwhile, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests lifted their fire restrictions on Sept. 3. When you head outdoors this fall, always check the rules for the specific land you’re visiting before ever considering a fire.

LOOK: Colorado Wildfire Damage by Year, Number of Fires + Acres Burned

Colorado has seen its fair share of wildfires over the years, but the numbers really start to tell the story when you look at them year by year.

From just a few thousand acres burned in the '90s to massive jumps in the 2000s, it’s clear something has changed.

We dug into the data to see which years were the worst and how things have shifted across the state.

Gallery Credit: Tim Gray

NEXT: Photos Show What Summer Did to the Colorado River

We kept an eye on the Colorado River in Grand Junction from May through September to see how an incredibly hot summer would affect water levels already stressed by poor snowpack and a lack of rainfall. Here's how the river looked from the southern bank at Eagle Rim as the summer unfolded.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

MORE: 11 Colorado National Forests That Will Blow Your Mind

From the ski‑swooped slopes of the White River National Forest near Aspen to the isolated high‑mesa woods near Grand Junction, Colorado’s 11 national forests span millions of acres and countless stories.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams