Moisture Prompts Fire Officials to Decrease Fire Restrictions in Southeastern Utah

Contacts by Agency:

BLM: Rachel Wootton 385-235-4364

NPS: Michelle Busbee 435-719-2122

State of Utah: Jason Curry 801-703-0225

USFS: Sam Stoffregen 435-260-2871

Due to increased precipitation and changing conditions, land managers are decreasing (and in some cases removing) fire restrictions in Southeastern Utah. On Friday, August 6, 2021, all Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), State of Utah and unincorporated private lands in the following areas will have decreased fire restrictions: 

• State lands and unincorporated private lands in Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties. 
• BLM Moab, Price, and Monticello field office areas located in Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties. 
• NPS including Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, and Natural Bridges and Hovenweep National Monuments. 

Fire restriction orders are specific to each agency and may contain different stipulations, but the BLM, NPS, and State and unincorporated private lands have the following prohibited acts in common: 

1. Campfires (wood or charcoal) are not permitted outside of permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits in developed areas. 
2. No metal cutting, welding, or grinding activities in areas of dry vegetation.   
3. No discharging or using fireworks, steel tipped/core ammunition, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets.  
4. Permissible acts include using devices fueled by petroleum or liquid propane gas (LPG) with a shut-off valve is allowed in areas clear of flammable vegetation within three feet of the device, having a campfire inside a concrete or metal ring in a developed camping or picnic area, and smoking in areas clear of flammable vegetation. NPS will allow charcoal to be used on the river corridor for cooking only; conditions apply.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will remove fire restrictions for the USFS Moab, Monticello, Price, and Sanpete ranger districts of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, areas within Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, and Sanpete counties in Utah, and Mesa and Montrose counties in Colorado. 

New restriction orders supersede previous orders and will be in place until the fire hazard subsides. For more information about fire restrictions (including the orders from each agency), current fires, and fire prevention tips, please visit www.utahfireinfo.gov.  

Fire sense is common sense. Please extinguish campfires, properly dispose of cigarettes, stay on roads and trails to avoid dry vegetation, and ensure trailer chains do not drag or create sparks.