Firefighters on the Horse Park Fire have hit the astounding mark of 90 percent containment as of Friday night. Amazing work! We continue to send our thanks to these hardworking men and women.
But in other wildfire news … our prayers are with residents north of Durango who have been evacuated from their homes and/or are on pre-evacuation notice for the 416 Fire. Our friends with Four Corners Back Country Horsemen are helping evacuate horses.
Follow La Plata County Government’s Facebook page for updates about the 416 Fire.
It’s a scary dry world out there. Safety precautions cannot be overstated.
The Forest Service has enacted Stage 2 fire restrictions on San Juan National Forest land in Southwest Colorado, and BLM Tres Rios’ Stage 2 fire restrictions begin Monday, June 4:
STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS begin in the BLM TRES RIOS FIELD OFFICE on MONDAY, JUNE 4
The following acts are prohibited under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on BLM lands:
• Building, maintaining, attending or using an OPEN FLAME, including fire, campfire, stove fire, charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) using liquid fuel such as white gas or kerosene. This prohibition applies to all public lands within the Tres Rios Field Office and Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, including Wilderness Study Areas and developed camping and picnic grounds in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, and San Miguel Counties.
• Exception: Operating a stove, lantern, or other device using pressurized gas canisters (isobutene or propane) equipped with a valve that allows the operator to immediately turn the flame on and off.
• SMOKING.
• Exception: Within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building.
• WELDING or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.
• Using an EXPLOSIVE. This includes but is not limited to fuses or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary ammunition.
• Operating a CHAINSAW without an approved spark arresting device, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (8 oz. capacity by weight or larger and kept with the operator) and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use, or outside of the restricted hours of 5am – 1pm.
• All TARGET SHOOTING – To include Discharging a FIREARM, air rifle, or gas gun.
• Possessing or using a MOTOR VEHICLE OFF ESTABLISHED ROADS, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.
• Except for parking overnight in developed campgrounds and trailheads.
• The use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices, including exploding targets, are always prohibited on federal lands.
These restrictions include Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument including BLM managed lands in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, and San Miguel counties.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 