Prescribed burn planned between Pagosa Springs and Bayfield

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Special to The SUN

The Columbine Ranger District is planning a prescribed burn that is planned to begin tomorrow in the Pargin Mountain and the Beaver Meadows/First Notch areas of the San Juan National Forest 10 to 18 miles east of Bayfield.

Burning operations in the area may continue through October, weather permitting.

The VP Unit 1 prescribed burn encompasses a total of 5,771 acres between Beaver Creek Road and First Notch Road, north of U.S. 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs.

The Pargin prescribed burn covers just under 5,675 acres south of U.S. 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. This unit was last burned in 2016.

The VP Unit 1 prescribed burn will begin Thursday, Sept. 5, weather permitting. The project will take about a week. Crews will begin work on the Pargin prescribed burn after completing VP Unit 1. The Pargin prescribed burn will also take about a week.

Daytime smoke is expected to travel to the north/northeast and to be lofted high into the atmosphere. However, nighttime smoke will travel downslope into the Beaver Creek drainage, the Piedra River and south to the Pine River just north of Ignacio. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings following burning operations, lifting and clearing out by mid-day.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, see www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

For more information, call 884-2512.