Basalt shooting range closes due to extreme fire danger

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has temporarily closed the shooting range at Basalt State Wildlife Area due to extreme fire danger, effective Friday, Aug. 8.

This closure will remain in place until further notice, according to a press release.

The decision comes after Eagle County, Pitkin County, and White River National Forest all entered into Stage 2 fire restrictions. CPW worked with partners at White River National Forest, Roaring Fork Fire Rescue, and Eagle and Pitkin counties to make the temporary closure decision in light of heightened fire danger.

“Over the last few years, our staff has worked on mitigation efforts to reduce the risk of a wildfire at the shooting range,” Area Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita said in the press release. “This includes improving safety berms as well as mitigating vegetation that could potentially fuel wildfires near the wildlife area. After collaborating with our local and federal partners and taking into account the extreme fire danger in the Roaring Fork Valley, we feel temporarily closing the range is the right decision at this time.”  

The closure only applies to the shooting range — Basalt State Wildlife Area remains open to the public. CPW reminds the public that recreational shooting outside of the range is prohibited.

For more information on the Basalt State Wildlife Area shooting range or to find shooting ranges throughout the state, visit the Shooting Range Finder page on the CPW website, located at cpw.state.co.us/shooting-ranges.