Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Parks & Open Space and the Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program plan to conduct burns as conditions allow this winter. The window for operations will be open until April 15.

Burn projects depend on ideal weather conditions, including relative humidity, fuel moisture, and wind. Projects will only proceed when conditions are suitable. Fire managers will monitor all projects until they are called out.

Prescribed burns may require closures depending on location. Closures will be announced individually as needed.

Forest Prescribed Burning

Forest prescribed fires reduce woody debris on the forest floor and re-establish the historic processes that the forests evolved with over time. The return of these processes will reduce the potential for uncharacteristic wildfire, improves ecosystems and improves public safety. Notifications will be sent when forest prescribed burns require park closures. For additional information, updates, and to sign up for email or text notifications, please visit the prescribed burns webpage.

Forest burn planned locations:

• Hall Ranch (west of Lyons)
• Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain (east of Lyons)

Slash Pile Burning

Slash pile burns are conducted to reduce the amount of fuel resulting from forestry operations. Operations will only occur when there is sufficient snow cover to ensure safe fire operations and containment:

Slash pile burn planned locations:

• Hall Ranch (west of Lyons)
• Mud Lake/Sherwood Gulch (north of Nederland)
• Reynolds Ranch (east of Nederland)

Agriculture and Irrigation Ditch Burning

Agriculture burning is done to remove vegetation to control weeds, improve nutrient cycling, and prepare areas for reseeding. Irrigation ditches are burned to remove unwanted vegetation and debris for improved water delivery.

Agriculture and ditch burn planned locations:

• Cohig (Coal Creek Dr, Superior)
• Zaharias-Thomas (McCaslin Blvd and SH 128, Superior)
• Marfell Lakes (Arapahoe Rd. and 119th St.)
• Gaynor Lake (Oxford Rd. and Hwy 287)
• Josephine Roche (Arapahoe Rd. and 119th St.)
• Jim Henry Ditch (Oxford Rd. and 115th St.)
• Bush (Coal Creek Dr, Superior)
• Mayhoffer (McCaslin Blvd, Superior)

Smoke and flames may be visible during prescribed burns and for several days, or even weeks, afterward. The area will be continuously monitored to ensure fires are completely out. Residents are asked to NOT call 911 since a prescribed burn is not an emergency.

Smoke from prescribed fires may affect health. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Wood Smoke and Health webpage and the Boulder County Public Health Wildfire Air Quality & Health webpage provide tips on how to protect health from smoke.

Questions? Contact Boulder County Parks & Open Space Forestry and Fire Group at BCForestry@bouldercounty.gov. Updates will be posted on the prescribed burns webpage.