COARF Arapaho Roosevelt National Forests Pile Burning

Last updated: 2024-01-05

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The type of incident is Prescribed Fire and involves the following unit(s) Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland.

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State: Colorado

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Coordinates:

Latitude: 40° 33 32 Longitude: 105° 5 10

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NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations.

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Incident Overview: Pile Burning for 2023-2024:Sign up to receive a weekly email newsletter about pile burning projects in your area (select Forest Health and Fire for your zone).  Have questions? See our Pile Burning FAQ or email ARPFireInfo@usda.gov.Regular burning activity notifications will be posted on this Inciweb page under “Announcements”. What is pile burning?Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire that helps remove woody debris from the forests, reducing the potential of more impactful, unplanned fire activity at other times of the year. Pile burning helps eliminate branches, limbs, twigs and small logs that can’t easily be removed through other means due to topography, access or cost feasibility. Pile burning typically follows forest thinning projects in overgrown forests. If heavy machinery was used to conduct the thinning, the piles may be much larger than if thinning and piling was completed by hand using chainsaws. Before burning piles, fire managers track hyper-localized weather forecasts to check temperatures, snowpack conditions and wind. Snow and cooler temperatures are key tools in helping contain fire behavior while wind is an important factor in aiding smoke dispersal. Firefighters use air quality monitoring stations in areas where they plan on burning.Smoke, flames, and glowing embers are often visible, and are a normal part of pile burning operations. Mild fire behavior between piles is expected and is also beneficial for future wildfire risk reduction. This can include forest litter between piles and lower limbs of trees.  Once burning has begun, firefighters patrol and monitor burned piles until there is no longer any heat emitted. This work is part of the National Wildfire Crisis Strategy effort to reduce the impacts of unplanned, large-scale fires on watersheds, wildlife habitat, recreation and communities. Fire is a natural and important part of a healthy Colorado ecosystem. With help from the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative and our community partners, prescribed fire on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and adjacent public and private lands is helping prepare our forests for unplanned fire when it happens. Learn more:To view all prescribed fire projects across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, check out our new interactive map. Zoom into the location you are interested in, click on a prescribed burn unit and learn more about its status. Fire managers work with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division to reduce the impacts of smoke on the public. For more information on how fire smoke may affect your health, see the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.  Areas on the Sulphur Ranger District (Grand County) with hand and machine piles ready for burning: Near Fair Tracts, east of Tabernash along Water Board Rd (FSR 128): MapWest of Snow Mountain Ranch: Map6 miles east of Granby: MapSouth of County Road 55 along the top of Blue Ridge: MapWest of County Road 50 at the Horseshoe Trailhead: Map Between Vasquez and East Elk Creeks on FSR 159, West of Winter Park Resort: MapBottle Pass between Ptarmigan and Bottle Peak: MapAreas on the Clear Creek Ranger District (Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Jefferson County) with hand piles ready for burning: Yankee Hill Area MapIntersection of HWY 119 and HWY 46, East of HWY 119, and South of HWY 46 1 mile north of Gilpin County School, at the end of FS Trail 732 2 miles west of Central City, west of the intersection of Bald Mountain Road and FS Road 273.2 Cub Creek Trailhead, 5 miles SW of Evergreen MapAreas on the Boulder Ranger District (Gilpin and Boulder Counties) with hand and machine piles ready for burning: Lump Gulch Area (Gilpin County) MapHalf-mile north of Rollinsville on Westside of Highway 119 (Peak to Peak)West side of Lump Gulch Road, 1.5 miles south of Rollinsville on west side of Highway 119 MapGilpin County south side of Gilpin Road, 3 miles south of Rollinsville on west side of Highway 119 MapOff of South Beaver Rd (South Side) mile east of Highway 119James Creek Area Map1.5 miles northwest of Jamestown, west of County Road 87Half mile south of Jamestown or quarter mile east of Bar K Ranch2 miles east of Peak-to-Peak Highway on County Road 52Half-mile north of Cal-Wood Education CenterSt. Vrain Area  In Meeker Park Map5 miles west of Lyons, north side of Ralph Price Reservoir (Button Rock) MapForsythe Area Map2 miles east of Nederland, north of Magnolia Road, adjacent to FS Trail 606 and near the intersection of Magnolia Road and Lazy Z Road2 miles north of Rollinsville, just north of Shoshone Road MapApproximately mile maker 4.5 of Magnolia Road, north and south of Magnolia Road off FS Road 321 and 3021.5 miles northwest of Wondervu, west side of Gross Reservoir2 miles southwest of Pinecliffe, east of South Beaver Road off Emory Road, La Chula Road, and Wedgewood DriveAreas on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District (Larimer County) with hand and machine piles ready for burning:  Cedar Park Area Hwy-34 and FSR-128 Storm Mountain Road, near Drake MapCedar Park subdivision, near Drake MapFSR299 and Cedar Cove Road at Cedar Park subdivision MapGlen HavenCR 43 and FSR 433, adjacent to Glen Haven MapCR43 and FSR 326 adjacent to Glen Haven MapMapThompson River6 miles east of Estes Park MapHwy 36 and FSR 124 near Estes Park MapMagic SkyCR-74E and Red Feather Highlands subdivision, east of Red Feather Lakes MapRed FeatherMapCameron PeakDeadman MapTiny Bob MapElkhornIntersection of CR86 and FSR309 MapMapRoachMapWest Crystal TimberTower Timber Sale Map Cow Creek Map Lonesome Timber Sale Map         Cherokee ParkDiamond View MapDevils Creek Map Map