BLM Plans Prescribed Burn in Gold Basin
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GUNNISON, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management’s Gunnison Field Office is planning a prescribed burn in the Gold Basin area as early as Thursday, Apr. 18, or as conditions allow through the end of spring 2013. The 150-acre prescribed burn is located nine miles south of Gunnison off Saguache County Road 38 and is intended to reduce hazardous fuels around the Gold Basin subdivision. Crews will use prescribed fire as conditions allow and anticipate work will be completed within two weeks of initiation.
“Fire managers use prescribed fires to reduce wildfire risk to communities, help restore and maintain ecosystem health, and achieve specific resource objectives such as habitat improvement and fuels reduction,” said Chris Barth, Southwest District Fire Mitigation Specialist. “Prescribed fires give fire managers the greatest control over the size and intensity of a fire because they can time and plan the burning conditions under which they ignite, and use ignition techniques that reduce potentially negative impacts.”
This prescribed burn has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed burn plan. Each burn plan contains specific criteria regarding weather conditions and air quality that must be met to help ensure control of the burn as well as to minimize the potential smoke impacts to local communities. A Smoke Permit, which identifies atmospheric conditions under which the burn can be implemented, has been obtained from the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division for this project.
Smoke may be visible in the area at times during the prescribed burn. Most of the smoke will lift and dissipate during the warmest part of the day. Some smoke may linger over the area and in drainages as temperatures drop during the evening.
“Fire crews will be onsite during the burn – as well as monitor the burn area following completion of the burn - to ensure public safety,” said Mike Davis, BLM Southwest District Fire Management Officer.
With fire season approaching, consider taking a few simple steps to make your property more defensible in the event of a wildfire. For information on the ways to mitigate your risks from wildfire, visit http://www.COwildfire.org.
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.