The Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office on Friday announced it was closing several recreation areas near Durango.
Public entry is closed to the Special Recreation Management area lands including Animas City Mountain above the city, and Skyline, Grandview and Turtle Lake/East Animas climbing areas. The BLM office also closed the Perrins Peak Wildlife Management Area because of the fire risk, according to a news release from Tres Rios field manager Connie Clementson.
“Public lands outside of the Durango area remain open, and we want to remind everyone to be safe and not add to wildfire risk this summer,” said Clementson.
Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place throughout the Tres Rios Field Office, which prohibit open burning, smoking, target shooting and off route use of motor vehicles. The BLM said it targeted the closures to be consistent with the City of Durango, La Plata County, San Juan National Forest and Colorado Parks and Wildlife who implemented similar closures earlier this week.
The BLM said it would modify the closures and fire restrictions as needed.
Maps and additional information about BLM emergency closures and fire restrictions are available at https://on.doi.gov/2JWrzcx. Holders of valid BLM permits to the closure area should call the BLM at 970-882-1120. The general hotline is 970-240-1070.
Exemptions to the emergency closure include authorized activities of any federal, state or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting effort in the performance of an official duty.