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Date: March 17, 2009
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363

Fire managers from Rocky Mountain National Park plan to take advantage of any upcoming winter weather conditions to burn piles of slash from several forest thinning and hazard tree mitigation projects. Exclusion of fire for the past century has resulted in unnatural forest conditions in some areas, with significant accumulations of forest fuels and an increased risk of a wildfire. In addition, park crews have been cutting hazard trees for mitigation of the effects of beetles.

Slash from these projects has been cut and piled by park fire crews and contractors during the last two years. The piles, which are now dry enough to burn, are located in a variety of locations on both the east and west sides of the park. Pile burning operations began in November and will continue through April as weather permits.

Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality and environmental regulations are continually monitored as a part of any fire management operation. For more information please contact the park’s information office at 970-586-1206.