BLM and USWFS Continue Prescribed Burn Season in Southwest Colorado

MONTROSE, Colo. – The U.S. Wildland Fire Service continues prescribed fire operations throughout southwest Colorado as weather, fuel, and air quality conditions remain favorable. Following broadcast burning earlier this fall, crews are now preparing for pile burning operations that may continue into the winter months. Potential burn locations include areas within the Bureau of Land Management’s Uncompahgre, Gunnison and Tres Rios field offices and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Southern Ute Agency.

These treatments are carefully planned to reduce hazardous fuels, protect nearby communities, and restore native ecosystems. Information about specific upcoming and active burns is available online.

“Much of the work happens long before we light a match. Crews have already cut and piled vegetation in areas where we're working to reduce wildfire risk. Pile burning is the next step in finishing that work.” said John Wroblewski, U.S. WFS Fire Mitigation, Education & Prevention Specialist. “Every acre we treat is an investment in safer communities and stronger landscape resilience."

Prescribed fire techniques range from broadcast burning, which is the application of fire to an entire area, to hand and machine pile ignitions. Pile burning focuses on branches, brush and other woody debris collected during previous thinning and fuels reduction projects. Burning these piles removes material that might otherwise remain on the ground for years. These treatments focus on increasing safety in the wildland-urban interface and restoring ecological function to the landscape.

Pile burning typically takes place during cooler, wetter months, when snow cover or moist ground conditions can help keep fire contained. Crews evaluate weather forecasts, fuel moisture and smoke conditions before igniting piles, and operations may be postponed when conditions aren't suitable.

What the public should know:

• People may see smoke or encounter fire crews working in treatment areas.
• Smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.
• Residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights.
• People with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions should ask their doctors about protecting themselves from smoke and should monitor their local air quality map.

All burns are carried out when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality are within specific parameters. Firefighters use a combination of natural features and constructed control lines to keep the fire contained, with protocols in place to minimize smoke impacts on nearby communities.

For more information, contact the BLM District Office or the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Geographic Area associated with the burn.