COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., October 6, 2008… The Pike National Forest, Pikes Peak Ranger District is preparing for a prescribed burn in the Trout West Ecosystem Management Project northwest of Woodland Park near Painted Rocks. The prescribed burn in Teller County will consist of up to 400 acres. Plans are to begin mid October if weather conditions permit.

Fire managers remind area residents that ignition can take place only when weather and fuel conditions are optimal. The fire will be low intensity with minimal smoke impacts to surrounding communities. Once the project begins, burning may last from one to several days, with smoke visible from Highway 67 during burning days and several days following ignition.

Vegetation types are mostly ponderosa pine, grass and shrubs. Most of the timber has been thinned by commercial logging projects, hazard fuels reduction crews and public firewood sales and the slash piles from these treatments have been burned over the last four winters. Surface burning of the area is the final step in the process and is designed to reduce the amount of timber needles, duff and small diameter woody debris. Another benefit to the burn is improved soil nutrients and resprouting grass and shrubs for wildlife habitat.

The Trout Creek Prescribed Burn is part of the Trout West Ecosystem Management Project on the Pike & San Isabel National Forests. It is a multi-year undertaking to restore more open conifer stands to the area, increase the amount of grass, shrubs and aspen. The prescribed burn will decrease the potential of a catastrophic fire by eliminating the dead fuel on the forest floor.