Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Parks & Open Space and the Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program plan to conduct slash pile burns at Caribou Ranch and Sherwood Gulch (north of Nederland); Reynolds Ranch (east of Nederland); and Walker Ranch (west of Boulder) as conditions allow this winter. Slash pile burns do not require park closures.

Pile burns are conducted to reduce the amount of fuel on the ground as a result of forest thinning operations. There are approximately 400 wood piles total for all locations, with the majority at Caribou Ranch and Sherwood Gulch. Fire crews hope to burn when there is a winter weather system in the area. Operations will only be conducted when there is sufficient snow cover to ensure safe fire operations and containment.

Smoke and flames may be visible during and days to weeks following slash pile burns. 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.

For additional information, contact Boulder County Parks & Open Space Forestry & Fire Group at BCForestry@bouldercounty.org. Updates will be posted to boco.org/burns.