For Immediate Release: April 2, 2007
Contact: Dan Huisjen, 970-240-5339; Steve Ellis, 970-240-5353; or Mel Lloyd, 970-244-3097

Prescribed burns scheduled for region

MONTROSE, Colo. – Crews from the Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests will be conducting several prescribed burns in west-central Colorado throughout the coming weeks.  Burning could begin as soon as April 9 and will continue as long as weather permits.  The ten areas slated for treatment are:

Norwood/Nucla Area
Basin: 100 acres, project area located 20 miles north of Norwood
Hanks Valley: 150 acres, project area located 16 miles northeast of Norwood and 8 miles northwest of Sanborn Park
Mailbox Park: 200 acres, project area located 9 miles northwest of Norwood and 8 miles east of Naturita
Coal Canyon: 200 acres, project area located 6 miles northwest of Naturita

Uncompahgre-North Fork Valleys
Dave Wood: 400 acres, project area located 12 miles southwest of Montrose
Escalante: 500 acres, project area located 18 miles southwest of Delta
Sand Mountain: 900 acres, project area located 3 miles east of Crawford
Paxton: 900 acres, project area located 9 miles west-southwest of Montrose
Roubideau: 100 acres, project area located 14 miles west of Montrose and 17 miles southwest of Delta
Log Hill: 150 acres, project area located 8 miles north of Ridgway

Fuels being treated in these areas range from pinyon-juniper at the lower elevations to ponderosa pine with a mountain shrub understory at higher elevations.  The main objective of these prescribed fires is to reduce dense vegetation to lessen the chance for catastrophic wildfires.  These burns will also improve wildlife habitat, regenerate new growth and discourage pine beetle reinfestation in affected areas.

Weather conditions will be closely monitored, and burns will only be initiated if conditions are within established parameters for safe and effective fires.  Each prescribed burn conducted by the agencies has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed fire plan developed in advance, along with appropriate smoke permits obtained from state agencies.

-BLM-