BLM fire managers planning prescribed burns in the Douglas Mountain and Irish Canyon area
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CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management’s Little Snake Field Office is planning prescribed burns five miles west of Greystone in the Douglas Mountain area of approximately 50 cottonwood piles located on both private and BLM lands. A second pile burn near the Irish Canyon campground will burn 11 slash piles. Ignitions of these piles could start as early as Feb. 22 and last through March 15 as conditions warrant.
“We will only initiate the prescribed burn if conditions are ideal for a safe and effective burn as well as for good smoke dispersal away from local communities,” said Toni Toelle, Supervisory Fire Management Specialist, Northwest District Fire and Aviation.
Smoke will be visible from the community of Greystone, Highway 318, and possibly Highway 40. Most of the smoke will dissipate during the day, but some nighttime smoke may remain in valley bottoms as temperatures drop. Any carry-over smoke is expected to be short-term. The public is reminded to not call 911 or emergency services even though smoke may be visible.
Firefighter activity will likely be seen for several days following the burn.
Prescribed burns must be carried out in accordance with the Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide. The burn is also conducted in accordance with the State of Colorado Smoke Management Plan and Memorandum of Understanding and regulated under Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division. The Air Pollution Control Division will issue an open burn permit, which specifies smoke dispersal conditions and other stipulations under which burning may occur. Weather and fuel moisture conditions will be closely monitored.
Please see the attached maps for location of the prescribed burn. For additional information, visit BLM Colorado fire information webpage at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-informatin/Colorado or contact BLM Fire Management Specialist Michael St.Martin at 970-826-5004 or mstmarti@blm.gov.
For more information on how prescribed fire smoke may affect your health, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
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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.