RBC I 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.
In Rio Blanco County, the planned burn is at Aldrich Lakes in the Blanco Ranger District, 14 miles northeast of Meeker, up to 1,800 acres.
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 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.
HOPEWEST PRESS RELEASE | Special to the Herald Times
