By Shannon Lukens.

Slash piles will be burned in Moffat County sometime in late November, as weather allows. This is 65 miles west of Craig near Douglas Mountain and Juniper Mountain which is 25 miles west of Craig and about five miles southeast of Maybell. Smoke will be visible but the BLM asks that you not call 911.

 

Press Release from U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management; Nov. 14, 2024

BLM plans to burn slash piles in Moffat County

CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to burn slash piles in Moffat County near Douglas Mountain and Juniper Mountain.  Depending on snow accumulation and weather, slash pile burning could start in late November and continue through winter as conditions allow.

 

The Peterson and Holland piles are located 65 miles west of Craig near Douglas Mountain. The 269-acre project contains hand piles the BLM created in 2022 to reduce hazardous fuels.  Smoke may be visible from the community of Greystone, Colorado Highway 318 and nearby county roads during burn operations.

 

 

The Juniper Mountain project is approximately 25 miles west of Craig and 5 miles southeast of Maybell.  The 47-acre project contains hand piles created for hazardous fuels reduction and rangeland improvement for deer, elk and greater sage-grouse. Smoke may be visible from U.S. Highway 40 and nearby county roads during burn operations.

 

“We will only initiate the prescribed fire if conditions are ideal for a safe and effective burn as well as good smoke dispersal away from local communities,” said Brandon Voegtle, Assistant Fire Management Officer. “Burning the piles will remove hazardous fuels and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires near these project areas.”

 

The public is reminded to not call 911 or emergency services even though smoke may be visible.  There are no expected road closures related to these burn operations.

 

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

 

For general information, email BLM_CO_LSFO_Web@blm.gov or call 970-826-5000.