Based upon the potential for favorable weather and conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Firefighters plan to burn approximately 60 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Unit. This burn unit is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and south of U.S. Highway 36. Because of the fuel type that will be burned, which includes mainly grasses and small shrubs, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation.

Due to the proximity of burn operations near the road, U.S. Highway 36 inside Rocky Mountain National Park will be temporarily closed from just west of Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to the Beaver Meadows Entrance between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. During this time, visitors will need to enter and exit the park through the Fall River Entrance on US 34.

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, RMNP’s Wilderness Office and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store, located inside the visitor center, will be open as regularly scheduled.

The primary goal of the project is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and NPS infrastructure by using prescribed fire to reduce the amount of fuels available in this area. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in stopping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road.

If conditions are favorable, ignitions are planned to occur on Tuesday, April 15. Firefighters will be on scene for the duration of the operation and will be patrolling the burned area. Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas.

Additional information will be shared on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cormp-front-country-prescribed-fire, on www.nps.gov/romo and on Rocky Mountain National Park’s official social media channels. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @RockyNPS.

Smoke may be visible both inside and outside the park.  Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the adjacent community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park.  Smoke may affect your health: For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. No trail or road closures are anticipated but visitors passing through active burning areas may be escorted by fire personnel to ensure their safety.

Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability and environmental regulations are continually monitored as a part of any fire management operation.  For more information, please contact the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

-NPS-
 

Ignitions have completed for the day after successfully treating 300 acres at the Magic Feather prescribed burn project. Fire crews will continue 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 may continue to 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 for additional ignition periods. To receive these updates, make sure to join our email list. Additional information can be found here on InciWeb.

Fire crews have completed a test fire and verified that conditions are good for prescribed fire ignitions today, Friday, April 11, for the Magic Feather Prescribed burn area. While weather values in the local area continue to meet prescription parameters for the project, resources are aware of and monitoring a critical fire weather outlook that is forecasted this weekend. In anticipation of today's burn and this weather outlook, managers have increased on-scene staffing. Additionally, managers have selected a targeted burn footprint for today that is interior of project control lines and surrounded by previously burned areas. Resources will remain on scene through the duration of the project work, which includes monitoring and patrolling the area after ignitions complete today.

Smoke may be notably 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.

Dolores, Colo., April 14, 2025 — The San Juan National Forest’s Dolores Ranger District is planning to conduct several prescribed burns starting as early as April 21st. Operations will take place over multiple days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable and may continue throughout the early summer based on conditions. Both hand and aerial ignition methods may be utilized, following the weather, fuel and smoke parameters stated in the prescribed fire plan. Burning operations will be conducted by U.S. Forest Service personnel assisted by fire resources from cooperating agencies. 

Project areas identified for burn implementation are: 

• Haycamp Mesa: 1,657 acres located 10 miles east of Dolores, along the Haycamp Mesa Road, National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 556 - Haycamp Mesa Units 8, 26
• Boggy Draw: 6,481 acres located 5-15 miles northeast of Dolores, along (NFSR) 527 and (NFSR) 532 - Boggy Draw Units 15, 16, 21, 22, 25A, 25B, 25C, 28, 48, 50, 51
• Salter/Carlyle: 1,659 acres located 15 miles east of Cahone, near Salter Y along (NFSR) 510 - Salter Units 32, 33, 39, 41

This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees. 

During burning operations, smoke may be visible around Mancos, Dolores, Dove Creek, Cortez, and Highway 491 between Dove Creek and Pleasant View. Smoke may settle into low lying valleys and the Dolores River Canyon overnight. Smoke monitoring will be conducted, and ignitions will be scheduled to minimize smoke impacts to communities. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. More information can be found online: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.   

Maps of the prescribed burn units and additional San Juan National Forest prescribed fire program news can be found on InciWeb.  For more information, please contact Acting Fire Management Officer Caleb Schutz, by email at Caleb.Schutz@usda.gov or by phone at (970) 882-6844. 

For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (X and Facebook).

Fort Collins, Colo. (April 9, 2025) — The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest is closely monitoring local conditions to resume prescribed fire operations on the Magic Feather Prescribed Burn, located near Red Feather Lakes, for the end of this week and into next week. The first potential day for ignitions is Friday, April 11, 2025, with favorable forecasts currently extending during various time periods through the end of next week. In the interest of public and firefighter safety, this area will be closed to the public during operations. Watch for warning signs along roads and trails near all prescribed fire areas before, after, and during prescribed burns.

Prescribed fires are used to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. The Magic Feather Project is now in its fifth year of burning, located east and southeast of Red Feather Lakes along Red Feather Lakes Road (County Road 74E). Since April of this year, wildfire managers have successfully treated 500 acres through broadcast burning at Magic Feather.

This project is being executed in a phased manner, with 2,700 acres currently under observation for appropriate conditions. Required prescribed fire conditions include appropriate weather, fuel moistures and smoke dispersal as well as adequate personnel to support the planned project. Weather is monitored throughout the potential burn window and ignitions will not occur if conditions fall outside of the required prescriptions.

Residents and visitors in the vicinity should anticipate the presence of smoke during the prescribed burning operations. Smoke is most likely to be visible from Red Feather Lakes and Northern Front Range communities. Smoke may also impact those using the Dowdy Lake and West Lake recreation areas. Local fire departments and county emergency management officials are collaborating closely on this project, and will be notified when burning begins.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit Wood smoke and your health. Stay informed about scheduled prescribed fires on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests through the forest website, email lists, social media channels and Inciweb

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

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 0 acres in the Second Chance Creek project area, 8 miles southeast of Superior in the North Fork Second Creek drainage.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90 in the Lozeau area.

Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District: Firefighters plan to conduct up to 20 acres of understory burning on the Clear Creek units 6 miles west of Thompson Falls.  Minimal smoke impacts are anticipated; however, smoke may be visible from Thompson Falls. 

April 6, 2025 

Acres: 3,434 acres                                                                                       Start Date: 03/22/2025 

Location: Clayton, GA                                                                                   Personnel: 115 

Containment: 88%                                                                                        Fuels: Timber 

Resources: 2 crews | 4 engines | 3 dozers | 1 helicopter |1 chipper|1 Excavator

Highlights: This will be the last update for the Big Ridge Fire unless significant activity occurs.  Yesterday crews made good progress on fireline repair.  The only remaining heat on the fire consists of large logs and stump holes and crews will continue searching for and extinguishing this heat. A closure order is still in place around the Big Ridge Fire for firefighter and public safety.  Crews and heavy equipment will still be working and moving around the fire perimeter after this rain passes and the closure will remain in place until it is safe to lift.

The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations is seeking information regarding the circumstances around the cause of the Big Ridge Fire. If anyone was in the area on March 22, 2025, and observed suspicious activity please call the Georgia Forestry Commission Arson Hotline 1-800-428-7337.

Weather:  Heavy rain is expected over the fire area today into Monday.  The forecast today calls for 69 degrees, 71% minimum humidity, and winds southwest 8 mph gusting to 28.  Thunderstorms are possible.  Following this frontal passage temperatures will be much cooler, and humidity will also be lower.

Evacuations: None.  

Closures: A closure order is in place for the vicinity of the Big Ridge Fire. For details visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/gachf-big-ridge-fire

More Information: 

Air Quality: https://www.airnow.gov/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChattOconeeNF              

Email: 2025.BigRidge@firenet.gov 

Fire Information: 770-530-3950