Single Publication

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to conduct prescribed fire treatments on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at West Dolores Rim project area located approximately seven miles east, northeast of Dove Creek, CO. If conditions allow firefighters plan to burn in two different parts of the project area within the Dolores River Recreation Area managed by the Tres Rios field office in Dolores County. Units 2 and 3 will be burned to treat the Ponderosa pine understory of mountain brush leaf litter and needle cast. These two units are located directly east of Dove Creek, CO. Units 17B and 18B treatments will burn remaining debris from mastication treatments and are located northeast of Dove Creek, CO. Firefighters plan to use hand ignitions and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to reintroduce low intensity fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem in a controlled manner to protect Ponderosa pine stands, enhance wildlife habitat, restore healthy forests and species diversity, and maintain a fire-resilient landscape.

Prescribed fire mimics natural processes under appropriate weather and vegetative conditions, which improves forage for wildlife, increases plant diversity by creating breaks in the understory where native grasses and forbs can thrive, and effectively reduces hazardous vegetation while enhancing woodland health.

The projects are part of the BLM’s ongoing commitment to protect human health and safety while maintaining or enhancing forest and woodland health and functionality. The BLM obtained smoke permits from the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division, which identify atmospheric conditions under which the burns can be implemented. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

More information on Southwest District prescribed fuel treatments https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cosjd-southwest-district-blm-prescribed-fire and follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit or Twitter https://twitter.com/SWD_Fire