RMNP fire staff patrolled the Front Country Prescribed Fire overnight and monitored the perimeter of the 60-acre burn area. Additional crews are working today, continuing to secure and monitor the burn area.

Smoke will be visible throughout the day. As the air cools tonight, smoke may settle in low lying areas overnight. Smoke may affect your health: For more information visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

Fire crews were successful in introducing low-to-moderate intensity fire on the landscape in RMNP through this prescribed burn and have removed fuels including grasses and low shrubs. Another goal of this prescribed fire was to raise the bottom of the canopies of trees and to increase crown spacing within the fire area. This work will help serve as a fuel break against potential future wildfires.

Fire managers and the leadership team at Rocky Mountain National Park would like to thank all of the cooperating agencies that provided resources and invaluable support to help with yesterday's operation on the Headquarters Unit of the Front Country Prescribed Fire. This successful operation would not have been possible without the support of our local, regional, and federal partners.

We would like to thank RMNP Fire Personnel, including the Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew, Estes Valley Fire Protection District, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, and Lefthand Fire Protection District. We would also like to thank the US National Weather Service Denver/Boulder Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Projects like this are only possible with the help and support of our partners!

Image Credit: NPS Photo

Smoke will continue to be visible in the area today, with occasional heavy increases in smoke production on some units. Fire crews are continuing to work in the area patrolling the project, removing hazard trees near trails, and preparing for the incoming precipitation in the forecast. In the interest of public and firefighter safety, a forest closure remains in effect for the area. 

Today crews were successful in introducing low-to-moderate intensity fire on the landscape and have removed fuels, including grasses and low shrubs. Another goal of this prescribed fire is to raise the bottoms of the canopies of trees and to increase crown spacing within the burn area.

To do this, some low branches on trees may burn in addition to the grasses and nearby brush. Raising the “crown base height” of trees decreases the likelihood that a future wildfire would move into the canopies of the trees. This work will help serve as a fuel break against potential future wildfires.

Fire crews will remain on site overnight. Visibility along U.S. Highway 36 has improved and smoke will continue to linger.

Fire personnel at Rocky Mountain National Park have successfully completed a test fire for the Front Country Prescribed Fire. The park will continue with its plan for ignitions today, April 15.

U.S. Highway 36 from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to Bear Lake junction is now closed until approximately 2pm today. Visitors will need to enter and exit the park through the Fall River Entrance on US 34. Beaver Meadows Visitor Center remains open today.

Visitors and neighboring communities may see smoke in the area, however, due to the fuel type being burned, which includes mainly grasses and small shrubs, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation.

This week firefighters will be operating the air curtain burner at the Chico Seed Orchard. A curtain burner can consume woody debris, brush and small logs in a self-contained incinerator that has reduced emissions and smoke. Firefighters are planning to complete up to 10 acres of fuels reduction using the curtain burner, pending favorable weather conditions. All prescribed fire operations are carefully monitored, and firefighters will conduct patrols following burning operations. 

All lines held  overnight after crews successfully treated 300 acres yesterday. Smoke will continue to be visible in the area today. Fire crews are continuing to work in the area, patrolling the project and ensuring a secure perimeter. In the interest of public and firefighter safety, a forest closure remains in effect for the area. 

Smoke will be visible in the Red Feather Lakes and Northern Front Range communities. Fire managers work closely with experts to minimize the impacts of smoke. Air quality is carefully monitored before and during a prescribed fire and all prescribed burns comply with state air quality regulations to minimize impacts to communities. To learn more about the potential health impacts of smoke visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

Fire managers will continue to monitor local conditions. Email notifications will be sent out periodically with status updates. To receive these updates, make sure to join our email list. Additional information can be found here on InciWeb.

Fire officials on the Lolo National Forest may implement prescribed fire operations today, as weather and fuels conditions allow. 

Missoula Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 34 acres in the Grant Creek project area, northwest of Missoula between Butler and La Valle Creek.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90 in the Grant Creek area. The project objectives are to maintain and improve forest healthy, and reduce the risk of damage from insect and disease while maintaining a natural appearing landscape. 

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 60 acres in the Second Chance project area, 4.5 miles north of Lozeau in the Second Creek drainage.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90 in the Lozeau area. Firefighters will be utilizing aerial ignitions. The objective of this prescribed burn is to reduce hazardous fuels created by previous management operations in the Scound Chance Timber Sale and to provide planting access. 

Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District: Firefighters plan to conduct up to 50 acres of understory burning on the Clear Creek units 7 miles west of Thompson Falls.  Minimal smoke impacts are anticipated; however, smoke may be visible from Thompson Falls. 

Fire officials on the Lolo National Forest may implement prescribed fire operations today, as weather and fuels conditions allow. 

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 10 acres in the Second Chance Creek project area, 4.5 miles north of Lozeau in the Second Creek drainage.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90 in the Lozeau area.

Fire crews have completed a test fire and verified that conditions are good for prescribed fire ignitions today, Monday, April 14, for the Magic Feather prescribed burn area. Over the weekend, firefighters continued to patrol and work in the area, ensuring perimeters remained secure and monitoring local conditions. In the interest of public and firefighter safety, a forest closure remains in effect for the area.

Smoke may be visible in the Red Feather Lakes and Northern Front Range communities. Fire managers work closely with experts to minimize the impacts of smoke. Air quality is carefully monitored before and during a prescribed fire and all prescribed burns comply with state air quality regulations to minimize impacts to communities. To learn more about the potential health impacts of smoke visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

Additional email notifications will be sent out periodically during ignition periods. To receive updates, make sure to join our email list. Additional information can be found here on InciWeb.