The Bureau of Land Management’s Tres Rios Field Office plans to begin burning slash piles for two hazardous fuels reduction projects as early as Monday, Dec. 15, or as conditions allow. Both project sites are on BLM-managed lands in southwest Colorado.
The Animas City Mountain site is on BLM-managed lands in Durango. This project consists of 300 piles of slash remaining from a thinning project that increased defensible space for adjacent neighborhoods. The Dolores Rim site is 7 miles east of Dove Creek. This project consists of 250 piles of slash remaining from a thinning project. Pile burning at both locations is expected to last no more than two days once initiated.
An environmental analysis and detailed burn plan outline the parameters for burning piles.
“The 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,” said Mike Davis, BLM Fire Management Officer. “Fire crews will monitor burn piles following ignition to ensure public safety.”
The BLM has obtained a Smoke Permit that identifies atmospheric conditions under which the burn can be implemented from the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division for these projects. While smoke may be visible in each area at times during the pile burning, 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.
“Pile burns are generally conducted during the winter and spring; when there is sufficient snow on the ground to ensure conditions are safe to conduct the burn,” said Chris Barth, BLM Southwest District Fire Mitigation Specialist. “Prescribed fires – including pile burns – help to reduce wildfire risk to communities, help restore and maintain ecosystem health, and achieve specific resource objectives such as habitat improvement and fuels reduction.”