Firefighters planning prescribed burn in Fremont County this month
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CANON CITY, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is planning to conduct a prescribed burn in the Waugh Mountain area, 16 miles north of Cotopaxi City in Fremont County.
Depending on weather and fuel moisture conditions, the prescribed burn could begin in early to mid-May. Approximately 40 acres of BLM land will be treated to reduce accumulated hazardous fuel and improve wildlife habitat.
“We will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are ideal for safe, effective burns, as well as for good smoke dispersal away from area communities,” said Ty Webb, Fire Management Officer for the Front Range Fire & Aviation Management Unit.
The project will create a mosaic of burned and unburned areas intended to reduce conifer encroachment while improving forage for wildlife and domestic livestock. Prescribed burning helps to create various stages of plant succession, which is critical to the health of fire-adapted ecosystems.
Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low lying areas.
Please contact Damon Kurtz, fire engine captain at (719) 269-8508 for more information.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.