Rio Grande County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Rio Grande County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande 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.
Rio Grande County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-10-512. To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is (719) 657-4000.
Official Rio Grande County sources
Fire protection districts in Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande 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: San Luis Valley Field Office
- U.S. Forest Service: Conejos Peak Ranger District, Divide Ranger District, Pagosa Ranger District
Rio Grande County fire-restriction rules by stage
Rio Grande County publishes its restriction rules inside each order when one is issued — there is no standing rules page. The details below come from the most recent verified order; always check the current order text.
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- campfires outside established fire grates at developed recreation sites
- burn barrels or burn pits for trash/rubbish
- smoking except in enclosed vehicle/building, developed recreation site, or 3-foot cleared area
- chainsaw use without approved spark arrestor, extinguisher and shovel
- welding/torch outside 10-foot cleared areas
- exploding targets and illegal fireworks
Allowed:
- propane fire pits (gas/pressurized-fuel devices permitted)
- gas grills
- camp stoves
- campfires within established fire grates at developed recreation sites
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
'Devices using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted.'
Source: Stage 1 sheriff order signed 6/16/2026, eff. 6/18/2026 (homepage public-notice Archives folder)
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all fires, campfires, charcoal, coal or wood stoves
- smoking except in enclosed vehicle or building
- fireworks and pyrotechnic devices
- explosives (fuses, blasting caps, rockets, exploding targets, tracers)
- engines without spark arrestors; chainsaw use without extinguisher and shovel
- welding or torch with open flame
- motor vehicles off established roads/trails/parking areas
Allowed:
- petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, propane grills or heating devices with shut-off valves, used at least 3 feet from flammable material
- fires fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels (exempt)
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Stage 2 order allows propane grills/heating devices with shut-off valves 3+ ft from flammables and exempts fires fueled solely by LPG.
No Restrictions (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
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 Rio Grande County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.