Upper Colorado River Interagency Unit planning multiple prescribed fires
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SILT, Colo. – Fire officials from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Unit are planning a number of prescribed fires this spring if the conditions are right.
The prescribed fires are designed to improve the health of the land, reduce the risk of large wildfires and benefit wildlife habitat.
Each planned fire has an approved burn plan that prescribes the weather and environmental conditions under which the prescribed fire could be ignited.
“At this point we are not sure which of these areas will present the best opportunity for a spring fire,” said Lathan Johnson, fuels specialist for the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit. “We’ll only ignite a planned fire if conditions fall within the prescription for a safe, effective burn.”
The Upper Colorado River Interagency Unit includes fire personnel from the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Fire professionals work closely with the specific federal land management agency and other key partners as these burns are planned.
Prescribed fires that could be ignited this spring include:
- The 800-acre Avalanche Creek Prescribed Fire two miles south of Carbondale on White River National Forest and Pitkin County Open Space lands.
- The 1,100-acre Hunter Creek Prescribed Fire two miles northeast of Aspen on White River National Forest and Pitkin County Open Space lands.
- The 1,500-acre WRF Battlements Prescribed Fire eight miles east of DeBeque on National Forest Service land in Mesa County.
- The 1,800-acre West Divide Prescribed Fire 13 miles south of New Castle on lands managed by the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management in Garfield County.
- The 1,000-acre Aldrich Lakes Prescribed Fire 13 miles northeast of Meeker on Forest Service and private lands in Rio Blanco County.
- The 1,500-acre Miller Creek Prescribed Fire 13 miles southwest of Meeker on Forest Service and private lands in Rio Blanco County.
- The 170-acre Sheep Gulch Prescribed Fire five miles northeast of Gypsum on BLM-managed lands in Eagle County.
- The 650-acre Battlements Prescribed Fire four miles northeast of Colbran on BLM-managed lands in Mesa County.
- The 46-acre Parker Basin Prescribed Fire on BLM-managed lands in Mesa County eight miles southwest of Colbran.
- The 200-acre Nick Mountain/Bald Mountain Prescribed Fire on BLM-managed lands in Mesa County nine miles southwest of Colbran.
Anyone with health conditions that may be affected by short durations of smoke should contact Lathan Johnson at (970) 244-3000. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
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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.