The San Juan National Forest’s Pagosa Ranger District is planning to conduct prescribed burns starting in April. Burning operations may take place over multiple days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable for meeting objectives described in the prescribed fire plan.
Burning operations will utilize both hand and aerial ignitions and will be conducted by Forest Service personnel and cooperating agencies. The burn will take place in the Turkey Springs area eight miles northwest of Pagosa Springs and is composed of several burn units totaling approximately 2,100 acres in size. Some trails will be temporarily closed during burn operations.
The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which has historically experienced frequent, low-intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime under controlled conditions. These burn units are part of the larger Brockover-Devil Creek Prescribed Fire project designed to reduce hazardous ground fuels and long-term risk of catastrophic wildfire, as well as restoring ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improving wildlife habitat.
Smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires may affect your health. More information on smoke.
Maps of the prescribed burn units and additional information can be found on Inciweb. For more information, please contact Fred Ellis, assistant fire management officer (fuels), Pagosa Ranger District, at fred.ellis@usda.gov.
For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874 or visit the forest website.
