Winter slash-pile burning to begin in BLM Kremmling Field Office
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KREMMLING, Colo. – The Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit plans to burn slash piles in several locations within the Bureau of Land Management’s Kremmling Field Office this winter.
The slash piles were generated last year from projects to reduce hazardous fuels for wildfires, improve public and firefighter safety, and improve forest health. The slash that resulted from those projects was piled and allowed to cure. The piles average 10 feet tall, 20 feet wide and 30 feet long.
“We will burn piles during November, December and January when there is a minimum of three inches of snow on the ground on days when weather conditions are favorable for a safe burn and for lifting smoke out of the area,” said Kevin Thompson, BLM Fire Management Specialist. “The specific locations and days we burn will vary based on conditions.”
In the Independence Mountain area, north of Walden in Jackson County, crews have roughly 1,000 piles to burn, which will take between two and five days to complete. Smoke may be visible from the towns of Cowdrey and Walden and along Highway 125.
Crews are planning to burn 40 piles in the Spruce Creek area east of Heeney in Summit, Eagle, and Grand counties, which should take between one and two days. Smoke may be visible from Heeney and along Highway 9.
The 65 piles in the Black Mountain area northeast of Kremmling in Grand County should be completed in one to two days. Smoke may be visible from Highway 40.
In the Gore Lakes area northwest of Kremmling in Grand County, crews have 110 piles to burn, which should take up to two days to complete. Smoke may be visible from the town of Kremmling and Highways 40 and 34.
Crews will be burning 360 piles in the Mule Creek/Morgan Gulch south of Parshall in Grand County. This could take up to two days. Smoke from the pile burning may be visible from Grand County Road 3.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
Contact Kevin Thompson Fire Management Specialist at 970-724-3033 for more information.
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.