IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 2, 2016) – As winter conditions settle in, the Clear Creek Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland will work to burn slash piles resulting from fuels reductions and hazardous tree removal projects in the area.
Hand piles are a result of crews using chainsaws to thin the forest, the subsequent cut material is piled for burning. Machine piles are the result of using logging equipment and consist of primarily the limbs of trees as most of the logs have already been removed. These piles must be burned before the treatment is complete. Pile burning could begin in November and will continue through the spring, as conditions allow. Piles are only ignited under favorable weather conditions. Adequate snow cover and atmospheric conditions conducive to smoke dispersal and lift are necessary for burning to occur. Firefighters monitor the area the area after burning is complete. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations. Piles that are ready for burning are prioritized based on elevation, aspect, access, and proximity to homes. Areas on the Clear Creek Ranger District with hand piles ready for burning are: · The Mad Creek Project immediately northwest of the town Empire and along Highway 40 corridor (123 acres of hand piles or approximately 3,080 individual piles). · The Evergreen Project located at the Cub Creek trail and Highway 78.5 mile west/southwest. (8 acres of hand piles or approximately 200 piles). Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. If you would like to receive regular updates about burning in your area, send an email to BRDvis@fs.fed.us Also visit the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grasslands Inciweb page at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4648/ or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfsarp
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