National Park Service Plans to Burn Slash Piles in Colorado National Monument Federal fire crews from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit will be burning slash piles in the Colorado National Monument this winter. The slash piles were generated from a hazardous fuel reduction project which removed Pinyon and Juniper ladder fuels from a fiber optic communication right-of-way near DS Road and Rim Rock Drive junction.Burning will take place when weather conditions are favorable for lifting smoke out of the area and moisture in adjacent vegetation is at acceptable levels to prevent spread.The objective of burning the slash piles is to remove the flammable debris and lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire. A burn plan for this project has been prepared and approved.This plan specifies the desired weather and wind conditions, as well as other guidelines for safe and efficient operations.Colorado State Air Pollution Division smoke permits have also been obtained. The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit is composed of the BLM Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction Field Offices; Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; the White River National Forest; and the Colorado National Monument. It encompasses more than 4.5 million acres oriented along the Interstate 70 corridor from the Continental Divide on the east to the Utah state line on the west. For more information, please call |
Last updated: February 24, 2015