Single Publication

GRANBY, Colo. (Oct. 13, 2023) – U.S. Forest Service firefighters on the Sulphur Ranger District plan to burn slash piles from multiple fuels reduction and hazardous tree removal projects. Burning of these piles could occur this fall, winter and spring as weather and fuel conditions allow on the Arapaho National Forest.

Throughout the year, fuels reduction programs across the forest are ongoing, improving forest health through both hand and mechanical tree cutting. During this process larger logs are taken to market and smaller limbs, saplings and brush are piled together to dry for later burning. When the weather changes in the fall, winter and spring, and more moisture is present in the ecosystem, conditions become favorable for burning these piles. During this time, firefighters return to ignite piles that have been left to cure from thinning projects.

Piles are only ignited under certain conditions, including favorable smoke dispersal and adequate snow cover. These conditions direct firefighters on where within project areas burning can occur due to the localized nature of conditions. 

Smoke, flames, and glowing embers are often visible and are a normal part of pile burning operations. Moisture, namely snow, helps contain the piles and firefighters monitor the area during and after the burn. Monitoring continues until the piles are considered out. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations.

Areas that could be burned as conditions allow include:

• Fair: 15,000 hand piles, 10 machine piles General Location: East of Tabernash along Water Board Rd (FSR 128) 
• Snow Mountain: 20 machine piles General Location: West of Snow Mountain Ranch 
•  Little HO: 20 machine piles General Location: 6 miles east of Granby 
• Upper Fraser: 1,000 hand piles General Location: Northwest of Winter Park near Elk Creek Rd 
• Big Blue Ridge Machine: 50 machine piles General Location: South of CR55 along the top of Blue Ridge 
• Blue Ridge Unit 15: 50 hand piles General Location: West of CR 50 at the Horseshoe Trailhead 
• Kawland Unit 90: 20 machine piles, 400 hand piles General Location: Between Vasquez and East Elk Creeks on FSR 159, West of Winter Park Resort 
• Bottle Pass: 150 hand piles General Location: Bottle Pass between Ptarmigan and Bottle Peak 

Visit the interactive map for more information.