Firefighters planning prescribed burns in Eagle, Grand and Moffat counties this spring
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CRAIG, Colo. – Fire managers from the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit are planning to conduct prescribed fires on Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands in the coming weeks when conditions warrant.
The prescribed fires are designed to reduce pinyon-juniper expansion and help restore sagebrush and ponderosa pine communities. Prescribed fires reduce dense vegetation and other fuels to lower the risk of large wildfires and stimulate new vegetation growth that benefits wildlife.
Fire managers are planning the following burns if conditions are favorable:
• In Eagle and Grand counties, the 350-acre Dry Gulch Prescribed Fire is planned on BLM lands about 11 miles southwest of Kremmling along the Trough Road.
• In Eagle and Grand counties, the 100-acre Geico Prescribed Fire is planned in the same general area as the Dry Gulch burn, but on Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands.
• In Grand County, the 350-acre Inspiration Prescribed Fire is planned on BLM lands about 10 miles southwest of Kremmling along the Trough Road.
• In Moffat County, the 500-acre Teepee Prescribed Fire is planned on BLM lands five miles southeast of Greystone in the Douglas Mountain area.
• In Moffat County, the 5-acre Ferret Pile Prescribed Fire is planned on BLM lands in the Browns Park area along BLM road 166.
“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 Toni Toelle, Supervisory Fire Management Specialist for the Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit.
The BLM has been partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other wildlife partners to improve big game winter range for elk, deer and bighorn sheep within the project areas.
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 have developed a detailed prescribed fire plan and obtained smoke permits from the State of Colorado for each planned burn.
Please contact Toni Toelle at 970-761-0124 for additional information.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/
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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.