Single Publication

BOULDER, Colo. (April 8, 2024) – Firefighters on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest are once again monitoring conditions to begin operations on the Forsythe II Prescribed Burn area, located 7 miles southwest of Boulder and 5.5 miles east of Nederland, as soon as April 15, 2024. This will be the second year of operations for this project after successfully treating 307 acres in April of 2023. 

Years of suppressing fires has limited the important work that wildfires play in reducing and recycling vegetation and led to overly dense and unhealthy forests that can fuel large, high-intensity wildfires. The Forsythe II Project is part of the Forest Service’s on-going Wildfire Crisis Strategy response effort to protect watersheds and improve wildlife habitat and forest health conditions, by reducing the build-up of hazardous fuels. 

All burning will be implemented in close coordination and with assistance from local cooperating agencies and partners, including Boulder Watershed Collective, Boulder County Fireshed, state and county public health agencies, and multiple local agency fire cooperators. 

The project has two main burn units amounting to 931 acres of total area. The two units are divided into multiple sub-units that vary in size from 18 to 130 acres. The prescribed burn will be implemented over several years, with the amount treated per year dependent on weather, ground conditions, and available resources, not to exceed 340 acres in any given year. This will be the second year treating this unit, with 307 acres treated last year. 

Prior to burning, fire managers carefully monitor conditions, including favorable weather forecast (temperature, wind, precipitation), fuel moisture, smoke dispersal and staffing. If conditions adversely change during operations, appropriate action to secure the burn will be taken until it is within prescribed parameters. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations.

Residents and visitors in the area should expect to see smoke when operations are taking place. Smoke will likely be visible in the following areas: Lakeshore subdivision, Crescent Village, Crescent Meadows, Gross Reservoir, Walker Park Ranch, Miramonte, Wondervu, El Dorado State Park, and parts of East Boulder County. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. More information about smoke impacts is available at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/wood-smoke-and-your-health.

Besides potential smoke impacts, recreational activities will be minimally impacted. However, a temporary closure order will be in place during burning activities.

Email notifications will be sent prior to burning. To receive updates, join our email list through Constant Contact and select list "Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 72 (Coal Creek Canyon) to Hwy 119 Boulder Canyon (Nederland and Magnolia areas)".

Have questions? Email ARPFireInfo@usda.gov.