Hall Ranch will only be closed during active ignition days.

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Parks & Open Space and the Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program have announced burn-window dates to conduct prescribed burn operations this winter and spring, weather permitting. Prescribed fires reduce woody debris on forest floors. Removing these hazardous fuels decreases the risk of extreme wildland fires.

Seeing smoke can be triggering for many residents as we approach the one-year anniversary of the Marshall Fire. When prescribed burn days are planned, staff will send email and text notifications and post on the Boulder County Parks & Open Space Facebook and Twitter pages. For additional information and to sign up for email and text notifications, please visit boco.org/PrescribedBurns. To talk to a forester, contact Boulder County Parks & Open Space Forestry and Fire Group at BCforestry@bouldercounty.org.

This is part of the Nelson Loop Prescribed Burn Project, a five-year plan to treat 853 acres with a goal of burning up to 350 acres per year. Burn operations are usually scheduled for one to three consecutive days.

• Nelson Loop Prescribed Burn Project at Hall Ranch
  • Burn window Jan. 3 - April 15
  • Located west of Town of Lyons
  • Burn area map

Burn operations and corresponding park closures will be announced at least 24 hours prior to ignition. Park closures during the burn days are necessary to ensure public safety during burning. If conditions are not favorable for operations the parks will be open.

Fire personnel will also stop burning if weather conditions do not allow for a safe operation or if the situation becomes unsafe for any reason. As with all prescribed burns, conditions must meet certain criteria for the burn to take place. Weather considerations include wind, temperature, relative humidity, and air quality. To determine if conditions are suitable for ignitions, fire managers assess fuel moisture levels and continuously monitor current and projected weather forecasts.

Smoke and flames may be visible for days to weeks following a prescribed burn. There may be heavy smoke in the air. Please do not call 911 since a prescribed burn is not an emergency. The areas will be monitored to ensure fires are completely out.

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