Montezuma County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Montezuma County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Montezuma County sources continuously and shows the current restriction status — alongside overlapping federal, state, and fire-district restrictions — on one color-coded map. Fire restrictions change quickly during Colorado's fire season, so always check the live map or the county's official channels before lighting any fire.
Who issues fire restrictions in Montezuma County?
In Colorado, county-level fire restrictions for unincorporated areas are typically enacted by the Board of County Commissioners or the County Sheriff under C.R.S. §30-15-401 and §30-10-512/513. Within Montezuma County, separate authorities can impose their own rules at the same time: fire protection districts (under C.R.S. Title 32), the U.S. Forest Service and BLM on federal land, Colorado Parks & Wildlife in state parks, and municipalities inside their town limits. That's why one spot on the map can carry several overlapping restrictions — BurnBound shows each one separately.
Montezuma County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-15-401. To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is (970) 565-8441.
Do Montezuma County restrictions apply on federal land?
Montezuma County's order does not address federal land, so a county restriction may apply on federal ground within the county — verify with the sheriff or the managing agency. Federal agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS) also set their own rules on their land.
Official Montezuma County sources
Fire protection districts in Montezuma County
Every Colorado fire protection district can set its own fire restrictions independently of the county (C.R.S. Title 32) — most align with the county, but always check the district covering your exact location on the live map.
Federal & state lands overlapping Montezuma County
These agencies set their own fire restrictions on the lands they manage inside the county — independent of any county order:
- Bureau of Land Management: Tres Rios Field Office
- National Park Service: Mesa Verde National Park
- U.S. Forest Service: Mancos/Dolores Ranger District
Montezuma County fire-restriction rules by stage
Fire Ban (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- open fires — any outdoor fire where fuel is burned, including campfires and campground fires
- fireworks
Allowed:
- residential charcoal and gas barbeque grills
- commercial enclosed incinerators
- welding/acetylene torch with 20-foot safe zone, fire watch and extinguisher
- burn barrels equipped with 1/4-inch screen in a 20-foot safe zone
Propane fire pits: not permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
The ordinance's only cooking exception is 'residential charcoal and gas barbeque grills' — an outdoor propane fire pit is an open fire and is not excepted.
No Fire Restrictions (Ban Suspended) (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Prohibited:
- open fires and fireworks on Red Flag Days, High Wind Advisory days (30-39 mph sustained), or High Wind Warning days (40+ mph)
Allowed:
- open burning during a ban suspension, with same-day prior notification to Dispatch (970-565-8441) before the burn
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Source: Resolution 2-2026 suspension conditions (Ordinance 2-2015 framework)
Rules content verified against primary sources on 2026-07-04.
Rules apply as written in each order — the county's current order always controls. This page never shows live status; check the live map for what is in effect right now.
Exact rules vary by jurisdiction and by order — the map's popup links the official order for Montezuma County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.