(Example of a slash pile burn.)

Twelve prescribed fires will be happening around Northwest Colorado sometime in the next few weeks, by fire managers from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit. It’s on BLM land and land in the White River National Forest in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, and Rio Blanco counties.

The burns closest to Routt County will be in Cottonwood Creek which is four miles north of Eagle. Another burn is near Aldrich Lakes which is 14 miles northeast of Meeker.

Prescribed fires are carefully planned to reduce dense vegetation which lowers the risk of large wildfires and then stimulates new vegetation growth which benefits wildlife.

 

Here is more from the press release issued today from the Bureau of Land Management.

 

Prescribed fires planned in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, Rio Blanco counties  

Carefully planned fires will reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildlife habitat

 

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Fire managers from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit are hoping conditions will be ideal in the upcoming weeks to begin igniting up to 12 prescribed fires on Bureau of Land Management and White River National Forest lands in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, and Rio Blanco counties.

 

Prescribed fires are carefully planned burns to reduce dense vegetation and other fuels, which helps lower the risk of large wildfires and stimulates new vegetation growth that benefits wildlife.

 

“Prescribed fires are an important tool land managers use to reduce risk to nearby communities and give firefighters areas to more safely and effectively engage potential future wildfires,” said Greg Larson, BLM Upper Colorado River District Manager.

 

“As we continue to see larger wildfires and longer fire seasons, the need for more prescribed fires and other fuel reduction work grows,” said Scott Fitzwilliams, White River National Forest Supervisor.

 

“We closely monitor weather and fuels prior to burning, and we will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are good for a safe, effective burn,” said Lathan Johnson, UCR Assistant Fire Management Officer. “We are also watching weather conditions for optimal smoke dispersal to minimize impacts to nearby communities.”

 

Smoke may be seen from nearby communities and roads. Smoke should dissipate during the day but may remain on the valley floors as temperatures drop.

 

Fire managers are planning the following burns this spring if conditions allow:

 

• Cattle Creek Prescribed Burn, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Eagle County): nine miles northeast of El Jebel and nine miles southwest of Gypsum, up to 1,500 acres.

 

• Cottonwood Creek Prescribed Burn, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office (Eagle County): four miles north of Eagle, up to 460 acres

 

• Muddy Pass Prescribed Burn, Eagle Holy Cross Ranger District (Eagle County): five miles north of Edwards, up to 2,900 acres.

 

• Seven Castles Prescribed Burn, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Eagle County): five miles west of Ruedi Reservoir and six miles east of Basalt, up to 1,100 acres.

 

• Cherry Creek Prescribed Burn, Rifle Ranger District (Garfield County): 10 miles north of Silt, up to 1,200 acres.

 

• West Divide Prescribed Burn, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office (Garfield counties): 17 miles south of Silt, up to 1,000 acres

 

• Farmers Canyon Prescribed Burn, BLM Grand Junction Field Office (Mesa County): 18 miles south of Grand Junction, up to 70 acres.

 

• Palisade Watershed Prescribed Fire, BLM Grand Junction Field Office (Mesa County): four miles southeast of Palisade, up to 410 acres.

 

• Braderich Creek Prescribed Burn, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Pitkin County): one mile west of Redstone, up to 1,500 acres.

 

• Collins Creek Prescribed Burn, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Pitkin County): Seven miles north of Aspen, up to 1,200 acres.

 

• Hunter Creek Prescribed Burn, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District (Pitkin County): Two miles northeast of Aspen, up to 1,200 acres.

 

• Aldrich Lakes Prescribed Burn, Blanco Ranger District (Rio Blanco County): 14 miles northeast of Meeker, up to 1,800 acres

 

Fire managers have developed a detailed prescribed fire plan and obtained smoke permits from the State of Colorado for each planned burn. Please contact Lathan Johnson at 970-257-4819 for additional information. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

 

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