| Contacts: | Cass Cairns, BLM public affairs, 719-269-8553, | |||
| Barb Timock, USFS public affairs, 719-553-1415 |
BLM-USFS interagency projected fall prescribed burn program
Cañon City, Colo. – Fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Pike and San Isabel National Forests will join forces as they begin the 2010 fall prescribed burning program in southern Colorado.
Planned burns will occur when weather and fuel conditions become optimal for achieving management objectives while keeping smoke impacts to a minimum in surrounding communities. The key objectives for the upcoming prescribed burn program are to: reduce hazardous fuels and the potential for high intensity wildfire; and to improve wildlife habitat. Weather and fuel conditions will be closely monitored and the prescribed burning program will continue through November as conditions allow.
Each burn has a detailed prescribed fire plan developed in advance and appropriate smoke permits obtained from state agencies.
USFS FALL PROGRAM AREAS
Prescribed Burns:
Black Mountain: 850 acres. This burn is projected to take four days. The project area is located six miles north of Gardner in Huerfano County. This prescribed burn is partly funded through a partnership with the BLM and The Nature Conservancy.
Slide Mountain: 120 acres. This burn is projected to take three days. The project area is located 13 miles southwest of Gardner in Huerfano County.
Pile Burns:
Black Mountain: Burn piles consisting of debris from thinning operations to reduce hazardous fuels will be burned. The piles are located eight miles southwest of Westcliffe in Custer County.
Alvarado: Burn piles consisting of slash material from a timber sale will be burned. The burn piles are also located eight miles southwest of Westcliffe in Custer County.
BLM FALL PROGRAM AREAS
Prescribed Burns:
Rice Gulch: 120 acres. This burn is projected to take one day. This project area is located approximately 19 miles northwest of Canon City in Fremont County.
Booger Red: 150 acres. This burn is projected to take three days. This project area is located 18 miles north of Cañon City in Teller County.
Poverty Mountain: 60 acres. This burn is projected to take two days. The project area is located approximately 14 miles southwest of Cañon City in Fremont County.
Sand Gulch: 170 acres. This burn is projected to take one day. The project area is located five miles northeast of Howard in Fremont County.
Pile Burns:
Turkey Gulch: Burn piles consisting of debris from thinning operations to reduce hazardous fuels will be burned. The burn piles are located five miles south of Texas Creek in Fremont County.
Sand Gulch: Burn piles consisting of debris from thinning operations to reduce hazardous fuels will be burned. The burn piles are located five miles northeast of Howard in Fremont County.
High Park: Burn piles consisting of debris from thinning operations to reduce hazardous fuels will be burned. The burn piles are located 12 miles north of Cañon City in Fremont County.
Rosita: Burn piles consisting of debris from thinning operations to reduce hazardous fuels will be burned. The burn piles are located five miles east of Westcliffe in Custer County.
For more information contact Tyler Webb, BLM prescribed fire specialist at 719-269-8560 or Dennis Page, USFS fuels assistant fire management officer at 719-269-8584.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
3028 E Main Street Canon City, CO 81212