Single Publication

Pile Burning Planned for Sulphur Ranger District

Release Date: Nov 1, 2024

GRANBY, Colo. (Nov. 1, 2024) – Fire managers on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are preparing for pile burning season for Sulphur Ranger District. Current and forecasted weather conditions in Grand County may create favorable pile burning conditions over the next several months. These weather conditions have also helped lead to the lifting of Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

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.

Before burning piles, fire managers track local weather forecasts for temperatures, snowpack conditions and wind. Snow and cooler temperatures are key tools in helping contain fire behavior, and wind is an important factor in aiding smoke dispersal. Firefighters use air quality monitoring stations in areas where they plan on burning. Once burning has begun, firefighters patrol and monitor burned piles until there is no longer any heat emitted. 

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.

Smoky conditions during the active periods of pile burning are expected. Smoke levels and duration in the air will be monitored and could affect the length of active burning on any given day as 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 where pile burning could occur in Sulphur Ranger District include:

• Bearscat: 1.2 miles southeast of Horseshoe Campground (FSR 140)
• Bottle Pass: Bottle Pass between Ptarmigan and Bottle Peak
• Blue Ridge: West of County Road 50 at the Horseshoe Trailhead
• Devil’s Thumb: 1.3 miles east of Devil’s Thumb Trailhead, along trail
• Fair: Near Fair Tracts, east of Tabernash along Water Board Road (FSR 128)
• Friendship Drive: Directly east of Fraser, near Friendship Drive
• Kawland: Between Vasquez and East Elk Creeks on FSR 159, West of Winter Park Resort
• Kauffman: 1 mile south of Highway 125 and FSR 123 junction
• Ranch Creek: East of Fraser between Road 810 and the Aqueduct Road
• Shadow Mtn Village: In Grand Lake near the Shadow Mountain Picnic Area
• Snow Mountain: West of Snow Mountain Ranch
• Strawberry Fuels: 3.5 miles west of Granby, near BLM Road 2751

See our interactive map for more information on each of these project locations. This map also includes information on additional projects, active burns and recent project completions on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

Additional information and updates on pile burning for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are posted on our pile burning page on InciWeb. On weeks were pile burning could occur, a newsletter will be sent out to pertinent areas. To receive the weekly pile burning newsletter for the Sulphur Ranger District area, join our email list and select "Forest Health & Fire: Grand County (Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur)".