Starting as early as tomorrow, Feb. 19, 2021, and continuing over the coming week as conditions allow, Forest Service firefighters will be burning 15-20 large slash piles along St. Louis Creek Road (FSR 160/164) near the Fraser Experimental Forest headquarters. Pile burning could also occur around Shadow Mountain Village near Grand Lake.

About Pile Burning

Wind helps disperse smoke created during pile burning operations and snow helps keep the piles contained. Seeing flames and smoke, even after dark, is part of normal operations. This reduces fuels on the landscape under the safest conditions. Conditions are evaluated each day to determine if ignition will take place. Ignitions are generally expected to begin after 10 a.m. and will cease several hours before sunset. Smoke may be visible. Precipitation, wind, temperature, fuel moisture, and staffing all play a part in when and whether ignition occurs. Firefighters monitor the area after burning is complete. Public and firefighter safety is always the number-one priority in burning operations. For a complete list of locations where pile burning will occur this season, as well as updated accomplishments and photos, visit our InciWeb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4648.

Contact List Information

If you know someone who would like to receive updates on pile burning activities on the Sulphur Ranger District, have them send an e-mail to katherine.armstrong@usda.gov and ask to be added to the Sulphur Ranger District Prescribed Fire list.