Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands

Forest Service News Release

Media Contact: Public Affairs Office

sm.fs.psiccpa@usda.gov

www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc

PSICC lifts Stage 1 fire restrictions

Effective 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

(Pueblo, CO, May 27, 2026) — Fire restrictions on all National Forest System lands within the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, including wilderness, will be rescinded effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, May 28. Recent rains over the forest have lessened the risk of wildland fire, allowing restrictions to be lifted.

Despite recent moisture, many areas across the PSICC remain in drought of varying levels of intensity. Hunters, campers and all other forest and grassland visitors should exercise caution to reduce wildfire risk as late-season fires have become more common in the Rocky Mountain region. Even if your fire is a relatively small warming fire, the fire should be dead out before you leave the site.

Visitors are encouraged to practice these principles of outdoor fire safety: 

• Clear all flammable material within 3 feet of campfire rings.
• Make a fire only if you have a shovel and sufficient water to put it out.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Keep fires small and manageable.
• Extinguish fires completely. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. Every campfire should be put DEAD OUT before leaving it.

Forest and grassland visitors are responsible for ensuring they understand the restrictions and can find any additional fire restrictions implemented by counties adjacent to Forest Service lands in Colorado and Kansas on the PSICC website. For more information on fire restrictions, please visit the interactive fire restriction map. For more fire resources, visit the PSICC website.