Durango, Colorado – September 9, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  The small lightning-caused fire located three miles southwest of Henderson Lake in the Bear Creek drainage on Missionary Ridge is at 1.25 acres. The area received light rain today, which moderated burning conditions, with minimal fire activity noted by the crew onsite.  Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire in the coming days.  Smoke may still be visible from US Highway 550 and the Missionary Ridge Road (Forest Road 682).  No closures or impacts to public use are anticipated. 

-USDA-

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

For more information, visit the Forest Website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan/ , or follow us at:  https://twitter.com/SanJuanNF

BAYFIELD, Colorado – August 16, 2017 –

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Firefighters worked until after dark last evening conducting firing operations and monitoring the progress of the 842 Fire. After several days of preparation, everything came together nicely and the goal of safely burning out this final area was met. The 842 Fire has increased to a total of 1025 acres after adding 282 acres from burnouts and is not expected to grow any larger. This low intensity fire from the burnout has succeeded in stopping all progress of the lightning caused wildfire which started on August 1st and eliminated excess fuel in this area of the forest. Today, fire crews will monitor and patrol the fire and make certain that all containment lines are secure.

Despite light rain falling on the fire the night before and considerable cloud cover during the day, the firing operation was very successful. “The cloud cover actually helped keep the fire behavior moderated as we burned out nearly 282 more acres” said Lance Martin Type III Incident Commander.

The public will continue to see smoke being produced from the interior of the fire. Islands of green [unburnt] fuel as well as large fuels such as logs and stumps will likely smolder and creep for some time. Visitors are reminded that, while there are currently no restrictions in the area, they should be aware that fire activity could increase at any time, and should avoid the area, if possible.

Updates and news releases are posted on Inciweb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5481/) and the San Juan National Forest website (www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan). For more information, please contact Chris Tipton, Columbine District Fire Management Officer at 970 884-1427, or the Columbine District Office at 970 884-2512

-USDA-

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

PAGOSA SPRINGS – The Pagosa Ranger District is planning to burn approximately 1,000-1,500 acres in the Turkey Springs/Brockover Mesa area northwest of Pagosa Springs, CO. The burn units are located adjacent to the Turkey Springs (Forest Road 629), Newt Jack (Forest Road 923) and Brockover (Forest Road 919) roads. Several area trails will be closed for short periods during burn operations.  Operations may begin in mid-August and could continue through the end of October. The actual dates of operations will be dependent on weather and fuels conditions.

For additional information, please contact Fred Ellis, Assistant Fire Management Officer (Fuels), Pagosa Ranger District (970) 264-1541.

Let’s talk about our community and wildfire

Wildfire Season is here. Is Pagosa Springs prepared? Join representatives of the Colorado State Forest Service, FireWise of Southwest Colorado, San Juan Headwaters Forest Health partnership, and the United States Forest Service on May 4 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Liberty Movie Theatre in Pagosa Springs for a Movie Night and panel discussion all about wildfire.

This evening will include short films from across the country, conversation, and door prizes. Come learn, have fun, and discuss how we can make Pagosa Springs more prepared. The evening is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association and State Farm as part of Wildfire Awareness Week.

For more information Click Here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2016

Columbine District to Burn Slash Piles East of Bayfield Fall through Spring

BAYFIELD – The Columbine Ranger District plans to burn slash piles through this fall and winter in the Sauls Creek, Yellow Jacket and Fossett Gulch areas of the San Juan National Forest.  Pile burning may begin as early as mid-October and extend until early April, depending on weather conditions. The slash piles are the result of recent thinning and firewood activities. For safety reasons, operations will typically take place after snowfall.  Firefighters will ignite and closely monitor the slash piles as they burn, which should not affect public access or use of these areas.

More specific notices will be sent out immediately prior to pile burning in these areas.   

For more information, contact the Columbine District Office at 970-884-2512. 

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please go to:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.                                           

For information on prescribed burning on the San Juan National Forest, call 970 247-4874, visit the Forest Website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan/ , or follow us at:  https://twitter.com/SanJuanNF

The San Juan National Forest manages 1.8 million acres of federal land in southwestern Colorado within Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande and San Juan counties.

Ann H. Bond

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

San Juan National Forest

15 Burnett Court

Durango, CO 81301

abond@fs.fed.us

(work) 970 385-1219

SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST

15 Burnett Court

Durango, Colorado 81301

970 247-4874

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 14, 2016

AERIAL IGNITIONS TO BEGIN ON PARGIN PRESCRIBED BURN (see attached map)

BAYFIELD – Plans are for aerial ignition of the interior of the Pargin Prescribed Burn to begin as soon as tomorrow, Thursday, September 15^th in the HD Mountains south of U.S. Highway 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. A helicopter will be used for three days to ignite a total of 4,500 acres, depending on weather and fuel conditions. Aerial ignitions will not continue past Sunday, September 18^th.  Ignitions will cease by 2 p.m. each day of the operation. Up to 100 U.S. Forest Service firefighters will patrol and monitor the 19-mile perimeter of the burn area. No National Forest road or trail closures are expected.

A well-defined smoke column is expected to be very visible from Arboles, Ignacio, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Durango, and from along the U.S. Highway 160 corridor. Daytime smoke may also spread northeast into the upper Piedra Drainage or north into Hinsdale County.  The smoke column resulting from aerial ignitions will be more visible from surrounding areas than what was seen during the ground operations last week.  Nighttime smoke is expected to settle in the Beaver Creek and Sauls Creek areas, and along the Piedra River from Chimney Rock to Arboles. Visibility between Yellow Jacket Pass and the Piedra River along US 160 will also be impacted, and electronic signs are posted on the highway to notify travelers. Smoke will linger into mornings in these areas but should lift by mid-day. 

The goal is to use prescribed fire in this area to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire, improve forest health and big-game habitat, and provide conditions for regular follow-up burns to be conducted efficiently and safely. The USFS works closely with the State of Colorado to plan prescribed burns and to monitor and manage the impacts of resulting smoke.

For more information, contact the Columbine District Office at 970 884-2512, or go online at: http://fs.usda.gov/sanjuan. 

Daily updates will also be posted at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov and on Twitter @SanJuanNF. 

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

Ann H. Bond

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

San Juan National Forest

15 Burnett Court

Durango, CO 81301

abond@fs.fed.us

(work) 970 385-1219

(cell) 970 799-1210

SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST

15 Burnett Court

Durango, Colorado 81301

www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 12, 2016

Prescribed Burning Continues in Turkey Springs/Brockover Mesa Area

 PAGOSA SPRINGS – The Pagosa Ranger District is resuming prescribed burning operations on National Forest lands in the Turkey Springs/Brockover Mesa area northwest of Pagosa Springs. The units to be burned have previously received fuels-reduction treatments, including hand thinning, mastication and prescribed burning.  Ignition operations may take place over several consecutive days, dependent upon weather and fuel conditions. Operations will be conducted by Pagosa District personnel and other fire resources from the San Juan National Forest and cooperating agencies. The purpose is to reduce hazardous ground fuels and the risk of unplanned catastrophic wildfire, as well as restoring ponderosa pine ecosystems and improving wildlife habitat. For additional information, please contact the Pagosa Ranger District at 970 264-2268.

 Smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires may affect your health. For more information, please go to:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

 Ann H. Bond

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

San Juan National Forest

15 Burnett Court

Durango, CO 81301

abond@fs.fed.us

(work) 970 385-1219

(cell) 970 799-1210

PAGOSA SPRINGS – The Pagosa Ranger District plans to burn approximately 800 acres in the Turkey Springs/Brockover Mesa areas, beginning the week of Sept 12, 2016. The units are between the Newt Jack and Turkey Springs Roads northwest of Pagosa Springs. This project expands upon earlier prescribed burns, which took place last month as part of an overall fuels-reduction project involving both mechanical treatment and prescribed fire covering approximately 5,000 acres.

SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST

15 Burnett Court

Durango, Colorado 81301

www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2016

Prescribed Burns Planned for Turkey Springs/Brockover Mesa and Washington Flats Areas

PAGOSA SPRINGS – The Pagosa Ranger District plans to burn approximately 800 acres in the Turkey Springs/Brockover Mesa areas, beginning the week of Sept 19, 2016. The units are between the Newt Jack and Turkey Springs Roads northwest of Pagosa Springs. This project expands upon earlier prescribed burns, which took place last month as part of an overall fuels-reduction project involving both mechanical treatment and prescribed fire covering approximately 5,000 acres.

An additional 200 acres are also planned for burning within the same time frame in the Washington Flats/Vega la Juana area east of Chimney Rock and south of Capote Lake. The actual dates of operations will be dependent on weather and fuels conditions.

The areas targeted for prescribed fire consist of ponderosa pine, Gambel oak and grass, and have received previous fuels-reduction treatments. Daily burn operations will range from 190 to 325 acres, with ignition taking place over several consecutive days. Burning operations will be conducted by firefighters from the San Juan National Forest and cooperating agencies. The purpose is to reduce hazardous ground fuels and the risk of unplanned catastrophic wildfire by restoring ponderosa pine ecosystems, which will also improve wildlife habitat. Ponderosa pine is a fire-adapted species, which historically experienced frequent, low- intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime under controlled conditions. Prescribed fires are only be ignited when all weather, fuels and smoke requirements are met.

For additional information, please contact Fred Ellis, Assistant Fire Management Officer (Fuels), at (970) 264-1541.

Smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires may affect your health. For more information, please go to:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.