March 15, 2016
Contact: David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 876-9008
BLM planning prescribed burn southwest of Kremmling
KREMMLING, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Kremmling Field Office is planning to conduct a prescribed fire this spring 20 miles southwest of Kremmling to improve wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuels.
Fire officials are planning the 500-acre Dry Gulch Prescribed Fire if conditions allow on BLM –managed lands off the Trough Road in Eagle and Grand counties, near Dry Gulch Spring about one mile southwest of Radium.
Officials anticipate the conditions will be right for the burn between March 21 and April 20. The project could take three days to complete depending on conditions. The first step will involve burning a fireline around the perimeter of the area, which would ideally be completed with snow still in the area to help with holding needs. The full area would be burned once the snow is completely gone.
The burn will improve wildlife habitat by removing pinyon-juniper trees encroaching into sagebrush areas and by stimulating sprouting in mountain shrubs to increase forage for big game. The burn will diversify the age and species of shrubs in the project area by leaving unburned patches of vegetation and creating a mosaic burn pattern. This also reduces the risk of a larger wildfire by reducing fuel loads.
Each planned fire has an approved burn plan that prescribes the weather and environmental conditions under which the prescribed fire can be ignited. The appropriate smoke permits have been obtained from the State of Colorado. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
A release over local radio stations will be done prior to any ignitions, for further information contact the Kremmling Field Office at 970-724-3000.
