2012-2013 Canyon Lakes Ranger District pile burning plans

The Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland plans to take advantage of changing weather conditions late fall and winter to burn slash piles left from multiple fuels reductions and hazardous tree removal projects.

These piles are only ignited under certain conditions, including weather, fuel moisture, smoke dispersal and staffing. The areas are monitored after burning is completed.

Firefighters will spend the upcoming months burning piles in a number of locations across the district. When and where burning occurs depends on the conditions listed above. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations.

Last season, the Canyon Lakes Ranger District burned over 25,000 hand piles. The district has approximately 36,000 hand and machine piles across the district. Crews may burn as many as 100 to 450 smaller hand piles a day at each location if conditions are met, which includes a minimum of three inches of snow cover. Some areas of the district also have larger machine piles. Typically, one to 40 of these could be burned at each location a day with a minimum of six inches of snow cover.

Areas on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District with hand piles ready for burning are:

• Thompson River (west of Pinewood Reservoir and southeast of Estes Park)
• Estes Valley (south of Estes Park, near Pinewood Springs, Big Elk Meadows, and Meeker Park)
• Pingree Hill (near Shambala Mountain Center)
• Crystal Lakes and Deadman Road (near Crystal Lakes Subdivision and northwest of Red Feather Lakes)
• Chambers and Tunnel Campgrounds

Areas with machine piles ready for burning are:

• Crystal Lakes (near Crystal Lakes Subdivision)
• Estes Valley (south of Estes Park, near Pinewood Springs, Big Elk Meadows, and Meeker Park)
• Browns Park (near Glendevey)
• Trout Creek (north and south of Forest System Road 315)
• West Beaver (west end of Forest Service Road 169)
• Pratt Creek (adjacent to Diamond Springs Subdivision)
• McGrevey (adjacent to Aspen Springs Subdivision)

If you would like to receive regular updates about burning in your area, please contact Reghan Cloudman at 970-295-6770 or rcloudman@fs.fed.us to get added to the district’s email contact list.