News Release

Prescribed Pile Burn Planned in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Date: June 5, 2019
Contact: Sandra Snell-Dobert, 970-641-2337, x227

The National Park Service is planning a prescribed pile burn in the maintenance yard of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

The burn will be conducted between June 12 and June 23 when weather, moisture, and fuel conditions allow. Pile burning is a type of maintenance burn whereby wildland fuels (limbs, branches and other debris) are cut through the year, piled, allowed to dry, and then burned during a period of favorable conditions. 

Weather conditions will be monitored and the burn will be implemented when conditions are suitable for safe and effective prescribed fire and good smoke dispersal. As with all prescribed burns, this proposed burn has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed burn plan. Each burn plan contains specific criteria regarding weather conditions and air quality standards that must be met to ensure control of the burn as well as minimizing the potential smoke impacts on park visitors and local communities. Smoke may be visible to park visitors and nearby residents during the burn operation.