The 2025 prescribed fire season continues. Fire personnel will carry out prescribed fires as weather, fuel, and the availability of fire resources permit. The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which historically experienced frequent, low intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime and increases the area on our landscape that has been burned at low and moderate conditions. Reintroduction of prescribed fire is necessary to improve and restore vegetative conditions. This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees. 2025 SPRING BROADCAST BURNING PLANS Dolores Ranger District (see full news release [https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/cosjf-2025-san-juan-national-forest-prescribed-fire-program/prescribed-burns-planned-for-dolores-ranger-district-04-14-2025]): * Haycamp Mesa, 1,657 acres COMPLETED MAY 27. 5/29: Smoke is still visible on the prescribed fire from smoldering vegetation interior in the unit. Resources remain on scene mopping up and securing fire line. * Located 10 miles east of Dolores, along the Haycamp Mesa Road, National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 556 * Much of the targeted area has been treated with previous timber sales and pile burning, resulting in lighter fuel loading. Burning under the right conditions helps keep our forest healthy and reduces the risk of bigger, catastrophic fires in the future. * Prescribed Fire season is often the cusp of wildfire season in order to achieve the desired effect. Fire managers are taking precautions to ensure a safe operation. 85 personnel will be staffing this prescribed fire, well above the minimum required organization of 30 considered adequate for the operation as well as initial attack of new wildfire starts. ------------------------------------ 2025 BROADCAST BURNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Dolores Ranger District: * Boggy Draw, 1,579 acres accomplished as of May 19, 2025 ------------------------------------ 2024/25 WINTER PILE BURNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Dolores Ranger District * Haycamp Mesa area (250 acres, 800 piles) near FSRs 556, 556.G and 492, south of Beef Pasture Reservoir COMPLETED * Taylor Mesa area (390 acres, 134 piles) near FSRs 545 and 545.J COMPLETED Pagosa Ranger District * Kenney Flats, 30 acres COMPLETED * Quartz Piles, 20 acres COMPLETED Columbine Ranger District: * Saul’s Creek (50 acres, 100 piles) near FS road 755 COMPLETED * Fossett Gulch (17 acres, 100 piles) near FS road 841 COMPLETED * Baldy Mountain (117 acres, 10 piles) near FS roads 69 and 601 COMPLETED ------------------------------------ 2024 BROADCAST PRESCRIBED FIRE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT: * Boggy Draw: 1,156 acres * Salter Y Units 34 and 37: 1,279 acres COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT: * Vallecito-Piedra: 235 acres * Saul's Creek: 1,615 acres * Southern HDs: 1,080 acres PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT: * Fawn Gulch 1,100 acres * Mill Creek: 400 acres ------------------------------------ 2023/24 WINTER PILE BURNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT: * Haycamp Mesa area (427 acres, 750 piles) near FSRs 556 and 492, south of Beef Pasture Reservoir * Taylor Mesa area (145 acres, 44 piles) near FSRs 545 and 692 * Salter area (321 acres, 267 piles) near FSRs 514, 504, 519 and 293, northwest of Salter Y * Lake Canyon area (518 acres, 336 piles) near FSRs 506, 504, 508, 514, 215, and 216 near Cow Canyon COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT: * Sauls Creek (110 acres, 1800 piles) near FS roads 755, 755.A, 131, and 131.C * Junction Creek (90 acres, 75 piles) near FS road 171, in the Log Chutes trail area * Fossett Gulch (40 acres, 100 piles) near FS roads 613 and 841 * Baldy Mountain (623 acres, 60 slash piles) off of Beaver Meadows Road PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT: * Lower portion of Turkey springs Road (FSR 629) near the powerlines * Turkey Springs Road near the Turkey Springs Guard Station * Brockover Road (FSR 919), Buckles Lake Road (FSR 633) * Huerto Creek timber sale between Piedra Road (FSR 621) and Poison Park Road (FSR 644)
Firefighters are closely monitoring conditions for potential burn windows this spring. Please continue to check this page for the latest information, which will be highlighted in the space above this information. Prescribed fires are used to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. The Magic Feather Project is now in its fifth year of burning, located east and southeast of Red Feather Lakes along Red Feather Lakes Road (County Road 74E). Since April of this year, wildfire managers have successfully treated 500 acres through broadcast burning at Magic Feather. This project is being executed in a phased manner, with 2,700 acres currently under observation for appropriate conditions. Required prescribed fire conditions include appropriate weather, fuel moistures and smoke dispersal as well as adequate personnel to support the planned project. Weather is monitored throughout the potential burn window and ignitions will not occur if conditions fall outside of the required prescriptions. Residents and visitors in the vicinity should anticipate the presence of smoke during the prescribed burning operations. Smoke is most likely to be visible from Red Feather Lakes and Northern Front Range communities. Smoke may also impact those using the Dowdy Lake and West Lake recreation areas Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information about the potential health impacts of smoke, visit Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment [https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health]. To receive updates, follow us on Facebook [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fr20.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001_4jQevMBOHm3ij4X-dPiBcWzTzhBlKNG7Ak20ATiL5hV8dbH0ztFvQihs44UwsWlSe5bGkI176N1h-l5TyqtuEYfaE-_LANcpc9obrtT3nKEAqFO18PTR_dqaAf8xPtNcyHOtfrqyMKc1KJyLkHLe0bNKsbpmaxc%26c%3Dtu6-bHUBD7B_o7CiWT7VjbjY3EQ2RGUdJBnV-2-5PJc7kz6ezD4ikQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DKkBmbkI9Pj8Pw596zy9vJ8hEwx5R_V70FL4MGPZT38jjcVXICPoHrQ%3D%3D&data=05%7C01%7C%7C8d7f5e8910d04f77a0d108db467312f9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638181304112273720%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=P1Ou3zBgeWBfIK4j%2BLeuEVKv5zx3UIfq4QcPlVYZJFY%3D&reserved=0] and X [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fr20.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001_4jQevMBOHm3ij4X-dPiBcWzTzhBlKNG7Ak20ATiL5hV8dbH0ztFvQihs44UwsWlvNfg4L24yNGmpu9fPnYBAJtkHFFkIvXBbTSaxVAht5IWVcU3hkHisQptxY3jQ5vxqilRu7y7KVtWlVz_jX-eqQ%3D%3D%26c%3Dtu6-bHUBD7B_o7CiWT7VjbjY3EQ2RGUdJBnV-2-5PJc7kz6ezD4ikQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DKkBmbkI9Pj8Pw596zy9vJ8hEwx5R_V70FL4MGPZT38jjcVXICPoHrQ%3D%3D&data=05%7C01%7C%7C8d7f5e8910d04f77a0d108db467312f9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638181304112273720%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xYh6uQsYifWyNPeUQOlhzbPuxGpy9a2r5%2FcjrVk80B0%3D&reserved=0] and join our email list through Constant Contact [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001IYrlh1STq1nQ4D8XRO5B4Tvbd__skb5DEaSNzAHXRTWsJ95wGZldZ7zrkXvzVXksf3R6x_FiGGtTmBpzdxMnTnede0kaBf28EWf6JhMvjtJ1G2BxcsTGuuXwUui3wHLgc8u79l49Wyo2SYfQARrvjWhWttAZTbd2] and select list "Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 14 to Wyoming Border (Red Feather Lakes)."
The Forsythe II Project had a successful burning operation on May 17th, 2025, with a completion of 125 acres treated. Firefighters have completed all ignitions for the spring season, and the perimeter of the burn unit is fully contained. Smoke will remain in the area as areas of fuels on the interior of the fire continue to burn down. Fire crews will be patrolling and monitoring the unit 24/7 until the area receives adequate weather conditions with sufficient moisture. Please continue to check this page for the latest information, which will be highlighted in the space above this information. _____________________________________ General Information about the Project: The Forsythe II Project is part of the Forest Service’s on-going effort to improve forest health conditions on the Boulder Ranger District. The project area is located near Gross Reservoir and Winiger Ridge in Boulder County, Colo. The entire project area encompasses 18,954 acres; 9,940 of those acres are National Forest System lands, 1,892 acres are Boulder County Parks and Open Space lands, and 7,122 acres are private lands. Elevation ranges from 6,082 to 8,945 feet. The project is generally located east of Nederland, CO and west of Gross Reservoir. The broadcast burn units from the Forsythe II Decision are located 7 miles southwest of Boulder and 5.5 miles east of Nederland, totalling 931 acres. Forest thinning and pile burning treatments for areas near the planned prescribed burn area are mostly complete. The area has two main burn units that are subdivided into multiple sub-units that vary in size from 18 acres to 130 acres and provides a variety of options for control using existing roads, water, natural features and control lines. Current project plans allow for treatment of up to 340 acres per year. These prescribed burning treatments will be implemented over several years, with the amount treated per year dependent on weather, ground conditions, fuel receptiveness, and available resources. All burning will be implemented in close coordination and with assistance from local cooperating agencies and partners, state and county public health agencies, and multiple local agency fire cooperators. Smoke will be in the air, and fire managers work closely with experts to minimize the impacts to the extent possible. Air quality is carefully monitored before and during a prescribed fire and all prescribed burns comply with state air quality regulations to minimize impacts to communities. To learn more about the potential health impacts of smoke visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health [https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colorado.gov%2Fpacific%2Fcdphe%2Fwood-smoke-and-health&data=05%7C01%7C%7C8b18517df1f44aaec36f08db314bfac3%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638157974616252064%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xazvkJjr3gmpTxXj%2FveiaJGxnj%2FnMmUlBLT378zSLO0%3D&reserved=0]. To receive updates, join our email list [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001IYrlh1STq1nQ4D8XRO5B4Tvbd__skb5DEaSNzAHXRTWsJ95wGZldZ7zrkXvzVXksf3R6x_FiGGtTmBpzdxMnTnede0kaBf28EWf6JhMvjtJ1G2BxcsTGuuXwUui3wHLgc8u79l49Wyo2SYfQARrvjWhWttAZTbd2] and select list "Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 72 (Coal Creek Canyon) to Hwy 119 Boulder Canyon (Nederland and Magnolia areas)". Have questions? Email ARPFireInfo@usda.gov. Forsythe II Public Map 2025.jpg Forsythe II Public Map 2025.jpg [ https://inciweb-prod-media-bucket.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2025-04/Forsythe%20II%20Public%20Map%202025.jpg?VersionId=WwHiVH104Q78ivHm0miWgn5_z7sG26Ht ] Fri, 04/04/2025 - 14:06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forsythe II Public Map 2025.jpg [ https://inciweb-prod-media-bucket.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2025-04/Forsythe%20II%20Public%20Map%202025.jpg?VersionId=WwHiVH104Q78ivHm0miWgn5_z7sG26Ht ] Forsythe II Public Map 2025.jpg