By Shannon Lukens. (File photo courtesy USFS.)

 

Routt County

Prescribed burns will be happening in mid to late April or May near U.S. Highway 40 on Rabbit Ears Pass. This will be on the western boundary of Routt National Forest in the areas of McKinnis and Harrison Creek.

 

Aaron Voos with the U.S. Forest Service says the prescribed burns will happen as soon as the snow melts and they get a window to get it done. About 300 acres will be affected. The prescribed burns help reduce the threat of wildfires to nearby communities and structures and helps improve wildlife habitat by regenerating shrubs and aspen.

Moffat County

Another area scheduled is about 30 acres of waterfowl and migratory bird habitat to reduce the density of cattails in the Oxbow Wildlife Area. This is in Moffat County, about nine miles northwest of Sunbeam. That burn will happen in late April so as not to disturb migratory bird nesting. So that burn won’t be happening between May 15 and July 15.

More information on both of the prescribed burns are below.

 

Press Release from the U.S. Forest Service – U.S. Department of Agriculture; April 2024.

 

USDA Forest Service to conduct prescribed burning in McKinnis and Harrison Creek areas

The individual treatment units are part of the larger Steamboat Front project.

(STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.) April 5, 2024 – Pending the rate of snowmelt, Routt National Forest fire staff are planning to conduct multiple prescribed burns in Routt County, Colo., near Steamboat Springs, in mid-late April or May. Suitable weather and fuel moisture conditions will determine the exact dates for burning.

Day-of notification will occur on the Forest’s social media channels: @FS_MBRTB on X/Twitter or @FSMBRTB on Facebook.

Burn unit locations are on National Forest System lands, in the McKinnis and Harrison Creek areas, near U.S. Highway 40 on the western Routt National Forest boundary of Rabbit Ears Pass. Multiple benefits of the burns include reducing the threat of wildfire to nearby communities and structures, as well as improving wildlife habitat by regenerating shrubs and aspen.

This year’s burning will treat approximately 300 acres. Mastication work and prescribed fire as part of the larger, multi-year Steamboat Front Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project was accomplished in 2017-19 and 2022.

These prescribed fires are planned at a time of year when weather and fuel conditions are not hazardous. Snow, wet drainages, and lower temperatures help the Forest Service target and manage the treatment areas.

Implementing the treatments at a lower-use time of year helps reduce impact to forest visitors. The Forest Service is coordinating with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, CDOT and Routt County on this project.

Staff will primarily use ground ignitions to carry out the burning, and there is the possibility that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) could be utilized. Public flying of UAS is prohibited in the burn unit airspace.

Multiple days will likely be needed to complete implementation. Operations will not commence unless conditions are favorable for safe and effective burns.

Burn units are comprised of mountain shrubs, grasses and aspen. While smoke will likely be visible from some areas during burning operations, including Highway 40, it should subside in the evening. Pending weather conditions, smoke may settle in surrounding low-lying areas at night. Forest Service fire crews will monitor burned areas following operations until the fire is safely out.

Necessary smoke permits have been obtained from the State of Colorado. Each prescribed burn planned by the Forest has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed burn plan developed in advance.

Prescribed burning is a versatile forest management tool that can mimic historically natural fire disturbances, improve habitat for a variety of wildlife, and reduce hazardous fuels buildup. Minimal and managed smoke from prescribed fires now helps prevent the potential for more unpredictable and hazardous wildfire smoke in the future.

The purpose of the Steamboat Front project is to reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to Steamboat Springs in the wildland urban interface (WUI) through management of forest vegetation; and to improve deer and elk winter range habitat through habitat and recreational use management.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see:  www.colorado.gov/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

For more project information contact Fuels Specialist Lance Broyles, (970) 629-2524, or acting Hahns Peak/Bears Ears District Ranger Don Dressler, (970) 870-2149. Information about prescribed fire can be found on our website or social media channels.

 

-USDA-

 

Press Release from BLM Colorado Little Snake Field Office; April 10, 2024

Bureau of Land Management to burn northwest of Sunbeam

 

SUNBEAM, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to burn approximately 30 acres of waterfowl and migratory bird habitat to reduce the density of cattails in the Oxbow Wildlife Area.

 

“The need for this project is to address the degradation of waterfowl and migratory bird habitat and to enhance habitat conditions for migratory birds and waterfowl, our objective is to reduce the cattail stand by at least 50%,” said BLM Fuels Technician Shane Pfeiffer. “Weather permitting, the burn will occur mid to late April.” To protect migratory bird nesting, burning would not occur between May 15 and July 15.

 

The project is in Moffat County approximately 9 miles northwest of Sunbeam along CO Highway 318. Smoke may be visible from CO Highway 318, U.S. Highway 40 and county roads in the area during the implementation of burning operations.

 

The public is reminded to not call 911 or emergency services even though smoke may be visible. Road closures are not expected.

 

“Weather and fuel moisture conditions will be closely monitored, and the burn will only be initiated if prescriptive parameters have been met,” said Pfeiffer.  “Each prescribed burn conducted by the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit has a detailed fire plan developed in advance, along with appropriate smoke permits obtained from the State of Colorado.”

 

Updates on prescribed burns will be available on the BLM Colorado Fire Facebook page.

 

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please visit the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division’s website: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

 

For additional information, visit BLM Colorado fire information webpage at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-information/Colorado or contact BLM Fuels Technician Shane Pfeiffer 970-620-6957.