Town of Telluride: Downgrades to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions!

26 Aug Town of Telluride: Downgrades to Stage 1 Fire Restrictions!

Following improved fire conditions across the region, Town Manager Zoe Dohnal has downgraded fire restrictions within the Town of Telluride from Stage 2 to Stage 1, effective 12:01 a.m. MT on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The change aligns withStage 1 fire restrictions in effect throughout San Miguel County, including U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, though Town restrictions are more strict in some areas.

For updates, visit telluride.gov and refer to the emergency alert banner or westslopefireinfo.com/san-miguel-county.

Go here for more about the Town of Telluride.

Photo: Telluride Tourism Board/Ryan Bonneau.

The following are prohibited within Town limits under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. (Note that some Town restrictions are more strict than those in effect in unincorporated San Miguel County.)

• Open fires of any kind in the Town, including Bear Creek Preserve, Town Park, on the Valley Floor, or on Tomboy, Liberty Bell, or Bear Creek Roads. Open fires include any outdoor fire burning wood, charcoal, or other solid fuel that is not contained within a permanently constructed fire grate or approved cooking appliance.

• Fires, campfires, stove fires, and outdoor cooking fires, except in developed campgrounds, developed recreation sites, or improved sites when contained in a
permanently constructed fire grate or permanently constructed charcoal grill.

• Use of charcoal, gas, or propane grills or fire pits on public and private property unless the grill or pit it safely contained and, if gas or propane, has an “on-off” switch for the flame.

• Smoking in campgrounds, on open space and trails, or in parks except in designated festival areas during Town-permitted events, on paved or concrete surfaces, or on crusher fine pathways within Town Park. Cigarette butts must be fully extinguished and disposed of in appropriate receptacles only.

• Personal use of fireworks of any kind.

• Use of explosive materials, including explosive targets.

• Welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame except in an area that has been cleared of vegetation.

• Operating any internal combustion engine (such as a chainsaw) without a spark-arresting device and possession of a fire extinguisher.

• Operating or maintaining a construction site, unless the site has at least one working fire extinguisher rated 2A10BC or higher.

Violations of Chapter 7, Article 9 of the Telluride Municipal Code are subject to the following
fines:

• Unauthorized smoking: $100
• Unauthorized fire: $250
• Unauthorized fireworks: $500
• Failure to provide a fire extinguisher at a construction site: $500
• Convictions may result in fines up to $1,000.

Violations are a misdemeanor and may result in significant fines and liability if a wildfire is caused.

“Conditions have improved enough that we can safely step back from Stage 2, and we are grateful to everyone who adjusted their plans and looked out for one another through the driest stretch of the summer,” said Town Manager Zoe Dohnal. “Stage 1 restrictions are still in place.
Open fires and fireworks remain prohibited, and conditions in the high country can change quickly, we will keep monitoring them and will tighten restrictions again if we need to.”

Telluride, more:

Nestled amidst the majestic San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, Telluride’s captivating narrative is deeply rooted in the ancient legacy of the Ute tribe, the valley’s original inhabitants, who crafted their summer camps along the San Miguel River, naming the land “The Valley of Hanging Waterfalls.”

In the late 1700s, Spanish explorers traversed the rugged terrain, laying the groundwork for subsequent exploration and settlement. A fervent mining boom followed, igniting a rush of prospectors to the region, culminating in the founding of Telluride in 1880.

Telluride’s allure as a hub of opportunity attracted fortune seekers, bolstered by the arrival of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and groundbreaking innovations like the hydroelectric power plant in Ames.

Set in a box canyon amid forested peaks at the base of the popular Telluride ski-and-golf resort, the town’s historic district houses landmarks like the Sheridan Opera House and the Telluride Historical Museum while playing host to culture, music, arts, outdoor recreation, and festivals with unrivaled views and dramatic locale.