Grand Junction Burn Season Returns: What to Know

Why is wood smoke a familiar smell in March on the Western Slope? This is thanks to Mesa County’s open burn season, which began at the beginning of the month.

Ag operations and Western Colorado residents who qualify for permits have already started clearing brush, weeds, and vegetation through controlled burns. Keep scrolling to find out more about who can burn, and just how long is it before burn season ends?

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Why Smoke Could Be More Noticeable in the Grand Valley This Spring

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Mesa County’s seasonal burn window legally allows some residents and agricultural operations to burn yard waste beginning March 1. Open burning is permitted on land greater than 1 acre in size. These usually cost $25.

The season typically lasts until April 30 inside the city of Grand Junction, and through May 31 in unincorporated Mesa County. On calm days, communities like Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade will see and smell the smoke from these fires, with temperature inversions sometimes trapping the smoke near the ground if burns happen in the morning.

What Residents Are Allowed to Burn and Why the Valley Needs It

If the Grand Valley were not agricultural, there would hardly be much of a need for a burn season. Instead, farmers and orchard owners often burn brush piles, orchard pruning, weeds, and ditch-clearing debris that build up throughout the year. For properties that qualify, you can only burn natural vegetation, no trash or treated wood. Find Mesa County's guide for applying for an open burn permit here.

Air Quality Concerns During Burn Season

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In Mesa County, smoke sometimes affects the air quality in the Grand Valley. When it’s calm, the smoke can irritate people with asthma or respiratory conditions. Locally, No Burn advisories may be issued when air pollution levels rise or if smoke lingers too long. If you are new to Western Colorado, we have a few rules we try never to break. One of them is to never light a fire without checking daily burn conditions.