Salida Ranger District Postpones Prescribed Burns on Mount Shavano [UPDATE]

Posted By: Terry West September 22, 2023

[Update] The U.S. Forest Service has postponed the prescribed burn in the Mount Shavano area until Monday, Sep. 25th, due to increased wildfire danger.

Fire and Fuels staff will continue to monitor conditions for potential opportunity for fall burning. Personnel will monitor forecasted weather and fuel conditions to determine appropriate burn windows.

The Mount Shavano Prescribed Fire project involves burning two units, up to 915 acres near Droney Gulch. The units are approximately six miles northwest of Poncha Springs. Temporary road closures of portions of Forest Roads 250, 250.A, 250.B, 251 and 255 will be necessary to provide for public and firefighter safety. Other roads will remain open in the area to provide alternate access options.

The Threemile Creek Prescribed Fire project involves burning two units, up to 2178 acres between Eddy Creek and Browns Creek. The units are approximately three miles west of Centerville. Temporary road closures of portions of Forest Roads 272, 273, 274 and 274.A and an area closure from October 1 through 31 will also be necessary to provide for public and firefighter safety.

“With these last two units at Mount Shavano, this entire project area of 4178 acres will have been treated. The Threemile Creek project is a re-entry prescribed fire after having treatments in there over the last two decades. Reducing fuel loading is not a one and done treatment. Fuels build back up over time, and we need to deal with this. This will be important work in both areas,” said Salida District Ranger Perry Edwards. “Finally, I do realize we will be impacting recreational users including hunters with the closures, but it is critical for public and firefighter safety. If we complete the Threemile prescribed burning early, we will cancel that closure before the end of October.”

The prescribed fire project’s goals are to reduce the accumulation of hazardous fuels, restore and maintain healthy and diverse forest ecosystems while allowing fire to play its natural role in the environment and maintain and enhance wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire is an important tool in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire across the landscape and can help prevent extreme fires by reducing buildup. Prescribed fires also minimize impacts to air quality when compared to wildfires. Prescribed fire smoke may affect people’s health.

For more information visit https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

Once the prescribed fire begins, smoke may be present for several days throughout the Arkansas River Valley.

Terry West
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