GMUG Fire Information

04/08/2026

The GMUG is planning prescribed fire operations this spring, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the summer as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires, while also supporting healthier, more resilient communities.

The listed fire projects are not presented in chronological order. Each prescribed fire will be implemented when weather patterns, fuel moisture levels, and on the ground conditions meet required operational criteria, and may occur at any point this spring or summer. Prescribed fires planned for the area include:

North Zone – Grand Valley and Paonia Ranger Districts

• Cow Creek Unit 2 – Located off Uranium (National Forest System Road #404) and Pine Mountain Roads (NFSR #405) roughly 11 miles east of Gateway, Colorado. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 5,000 acres.
• Steamboat Rocks - Located on the Land’s End Road (NFSR #101) roughly 6 miles south of Grand Junction, Colorado, within Mesa County. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 500 acres.
• LaFair Units – Located 15 miles east of Gateway, Colorado. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 500 acres.

West Zone – Norwood and Ouray Ranger District

• Turkey Plot – Located off Sanborn Park Road, roughly 14 miles northwest of Norwood, Colorado, within San Miguel County. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 450 acres.
• Sanborn – Located off Sanborn Park Road, roughly 4 miles northeast of Norwood, Colorado. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 850 acres.
• Baldy Mountain Project – Located in the Baldy Mountain area roughly 4 miles southeast of Ridgway, Colorado. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 500 acres.
• 25 Mesa – Located on 25 Mesa Road (NFSR #503) roughly 25 miles west of Delta, Colorado. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 1,300 acres.
• Davewood – Located in the Davewood area along Lowe Spring Creek Road and NFSR #536 roughly 16 miles south-southwest of Montrose, Colorado. The prescribed burn will cover approximately 850 acres.

See additional details here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts/gmug-national-forests-begin-prescribed-fires-0

09/11/2025

The GMUG is reducing the Turner Gulch Wildfire public closure area starting September 12 at 12:01 a.m. through December 1 at noon, unless rescinded.

See map and closure order for more details here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts/turner-gulch-wildfire-area-closure-order-9-11-update

09/09/2025

*GMUG rescinds fire restrictions, effective September 9 at 6 p.m.

DELTA, Colo. (September 09, 2025) — Stage 1 fire restrictions will be rescinded for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests, effective September 9 at 6 p.m. Recent conditions have increased fuel moisture and lessened, but not eliminated, the threat of wildland fire danger, allowing restrictions to be lifted.

Federal and county public lands surrounding the GMUG may remain under fire restrictions. Please consult with the appropriate land managers before engaging in any activities that may violate restrictions.

Although fire restrictions are lifting, forest managers would like to remind visitors and users of the GMUG to continue being attentive to their actions and surroundings, especially in areas with dry vegetation or dead/down trees.

“We're grateful for the public's continued cooperation and understanding during recent fire restrictions,” said Chad Stewart, GMUG forest supervisor. "Continue making smart choices out there, stay fire-aware and enjoy your time on the GMUG."

Fire managers base decisions about fire restrictions on specific fuel moisture measurements in vegetation and other risk factors such as predicted weather and current fire activity. Fire managers will continue to monitor conditions and assess the need for further action.

For information and updates on current alerts, conditions and GMUG recreation opportunities, visit the forest website.

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About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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09/03/2025

Turner Gulch Fire is 100% contained

Turner Gulch Fire is 100% contained

Thanks to the work the firefighters put in over the last few days the Turner Gulch Fire is now 100% contained and the majority of suppression repair work in the fire area has been completed.

On Wednesday September 3rd at 7:30am command of the Turner Gulch Fire transitioned from a Type 3 Organization to a local Type 4 organization in order to complete the remaining work.

The outgoing team would like to thank the BLM, US Forest Service and Mesa County for their support and continued efforts on the Turner Gulch Fire.

08/29/2025

08/28/2025

The GMUG National Forests are reducing the Turner Gulch Wildfire public closure area starting August 29 at 11:59 a.m. through October 1st at noon, unless rescinded. See details here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts/turner-gulch-wildfire-area-closure-order-8-29-update

Turner Gulch Fire Colorado

08/26/2025