Each winter Larimer County’s Department of Natural Resources burns dozens of slash piles – branches and other small diameter wood produced during forest thinning operations — to improve forest health and reduce the threat of wildfire. These burns meet state and local fire regulations.
Hermit Park Open Space, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Pinewood Reservoir County Park and Carter Lake County Park are the county’s priorities for pile burning this winter. The county has targeted about 500 piles for burning this year. “It’s good forest management to thin dense stands of trees, it reduces wildfire threats and improves wildlife habitat,” said Jeffrey Boring, Larimer County natural resource specialist. But thinning creates a lot of slash and the most practical way of managing slash is to burn it.
Larimer County Natural Resources and Emergency Services Departments will continue to monitor weather conditions and plan pile burns accordingly. The public should expect to see smoke from pile burns following snow events. “We’re ready to go, but we’re waiting on Mother Nature to give us the green light,” Boring said. Any trail closures will be posted at the park or open space trailhead.
To learn more about Larimer County’s parks and open spaces, visit our website at www.larimer.org/naturalresources.
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