By Lorena Williams
The Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on April 23, pending all required approvals and favorable environmental conditions. Objectives of the burn are to reduce hazardous fuels and lessen the risk of wildfire impacts to the community of Pagosa Springs, improve forage conditions for wildlife species, and improve the health of the ponderosa pine ecosystem.
This burn unit is larger than Brockover units burned in past years, and residents should expect to see a more substantial smoke column than in the past.
The 1,365 acre Brockover-Devil Prescribed Fire is tentatively planned for April 23. The burn units are located in the Turkey Springs area, 8 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs and approximately ½ mile from the Hatcher Subdivision, immediately adjacent to NFSR roads 629 (Turkey Springs), 919 (Brockover) and 923 (Newt Jack Road). A helicopter and/or a UAS (drone) will be used for ignitions.
Portions of this area were previously burned in 2019, and this prescribed fire is designed to maintain forest conditions of previous timber and prescribed fire investments. The area planned for this spring’s burn is immediately adjacent to areas burned in the fall of 2025. The burn may be cancelled if observed weather on the day of the burn is not favorable.
No official closures are in place in the Turkey Springs area, but users of the Turkey Springs Trail System should avoid use of the following roads and trails during burn operations.
- National Forest System Roads NFSRs): 629, 919 and 923.
- National Forest System Trails (NFSTs): 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, 316, 319 and portions of 304 and 323
Smoke Impacts:
- During operations smoke may be visible from Pagosa Springs, several Pagosa Lakes Areas, County Rd 600 between Highway 160 and Piedra River Trailhead, and Highway 160 between Timberline Ridge and downtown Pagosa Springs.
- Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit Wood smoke and your health. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow or download the app.
Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the San Juan National Forest Prescribed Fire InciWeb page.