RBC | Fire managers from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit are closely monitoring conditions as they plan several prescribed fires on federal lands Eagle, Mesa, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Summit counties in the coming weeks.
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.
“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, Acting UCR 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 are planning the following burns this spring on the White River National Forest and on Bureau of Land Management administered lands if conditions allow:
• Aldrich Lakes Prescribed Fire, Blanco Ranger District (Rio Blanco County): 14 miles northeast of Meeker, up to 1,500 acres
Specific notifications will be made ahead of individual prescribed fires. Timing for individual prescribed fires will depend on a variety of factors including elevation, snowmelt, moisture in the vegetation and soil, and local weather forecasts.
“Fire is as much a natural part of the western Colorado ecosystem as the wildlife and vegetation,” Johnson said. “Prescribed fires and other fuel reduction treatments lessen the intensity of unwanted, large wildfires and give firefighters a place to more effectively engage wildfires when necessary.”
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.everyone start competing and figuring out what events they will do,” said Blunt.
