The season for prescribed burning is upon us! In preparation, U.S. Forest Service officials on the Pike National Forest are now closely monitoring weather and forest fuel conditions and preparing burn plans in anticipation of conducting vital, preventative prescribed burns to rid the forest of hazardous ground and ladder fuels. In past years, during the dry spring and summer months, such fuels have enabled fires in the forest to spread rapidly through the crowns of trees, inflicting catastrophic damage to the forest and private property. Given proper conditions, the Pike National Forest hopes to complete more than 2,400 acres in prescribed burning in four separate project areas in the next several weeks.

Weather and environmental conditions in the months of October and November generally provide the necessary weather and environmental conditions needed to conduct prescribed burns. As with all prescribed burning activities, ignition for a prescribed burn on national forest land can only take place when weather and fuel conditions are such that the fire will be of a lower level of intensity, smoke impacts to surrounding communities are minimized and the burn meets all the guidelines established by the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division.

Throughout the past year, the three ranger districts of the Pike National Forest have been strategically thinning portions of the forest, with an emphasis on treating acreage in wildland-urban interface areas to protect communities in and around the national forest. Since October 2003, Pike National Forest elements have completed on-ground mechanical treatment on more than 9,600 acres using a variety of methods. These include the use of contracted mechanical equipment to cut, masticate (chew up) or chip vegetation; contracting for limited timber sales; and use of internal Forest Service crews. Another 4,700 acres have been treated this past year through prescribed burning.

As conditions permit, residents in several areas surrounding the Pike National Forest can expect to see prescribed burn smoke in the coming weeks. These include:

• Areas north of Deckers and southwest of Sedalia. South Platte Ranger District (Morrison) plans to conduct nearly 1,000 acres in prescribed burns in the Trumbull and Sprucewood/Moonridge area.
• Areas north and northwest of Woodland Park. Pikes Peak Ranger District (Colorado Springs) anticipates completing a 1,000-acre prescribed burn near West Creek and the Painted Rocks subdivision.
• A project area near Lake George. South Park Ranger District (Fairplay) anticipates completing a prescribed burn of 500 - 600 acres in its Sledgehammer project area near Blue Mountain, four miles south of Lake George.

The Forest Service will announce specific, expected prescribed burn dates to local area residents 24 - 48 hours prior to each anticipated burn.