South Park Ranger District Plans Prescribed Burning for Areas Near Lake George

South Park Ranger District Plans Prescribed Burning for Areas Near Lake George

Release Date: Oct 12, 2021

Contact(s): Chris Sukach, 702-659-2586

FAIRPLAY, Colo., October 12, 2021— As part of ongoing hazardous fuels reduction projects, the South Park Ranger District will conduct prescribed burns in the Wilson, Obrien and Beaver project areas in Park County, beginning in mid-October and continuing through December 2021, conditions permitting.

“The use of prescribed fire helps to increase the overall health of the forest and protect communities from wildfire,” said South Park District Ranger Josh Voorhis. “By managing the landscape using low to moderate intensity fire, carefully managed by fire and fuel specialists, we promote more resilient landscapes.”

For both firefighter and public safety, forest visitors can expect occasional closures in affected areas during ignition operations.

The Wilson project area is about 400 acres, located one-half mile South of Lake George, Colorado, near the entrance to Eleven Mile Canyon. The project units are east of Park County Road 61 and west of Wilson Lake Estates Subdivision.

The Beaver project area is about 200 acres, located approximately nine miles south-southwest of Lake George, Colorado. It is south of County Road 98 and east of County Road 100—south of the Beaver Valley and Echo Valley subdivisions.

The Obrien project is about three miles southwest of Lake George, Colorado, and southeast of County Road 92. Approximately 200 acres are planned for burning at this location just south of Forest Road 251.1B.

To facilitate burning, each of the selected areas have been prepared in advance to help ensure safe burning operations. These prescribed burns will reduce fuel loading and the risk to the public and firefighters suppressing wildfires in the area.

Ignitions will occur only when weather and fuel conditions meet established parameters and when smoke impacts can be managed within established requirements. Ignition and burning operations may continue for several days depending on the size of area being burned.

Smoke is a natural byproduct of fire and some amounts are unavoidable. However, smoke impacts from prescribed fires are much less than from a wildfire. Fire managers must obtain permits from the state, which sets conditions to help reduce smoke impacts. Expect smoke to be visible from the surrounding area, including the Highway 24 corridor. Smoke may also linger over the burn areas for a few days following initial ignitions. For more information on smoke, please visit: www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health .

Follow @PSICC_NF on Twitter for up-to-date information on this and other topics. Use #LkGeoRX for South Park Ranger District prescribed fire information and notification of when burns will take place. For more fire resources, please visit our fire management page.

www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD961391

USFS:
Firefighters will do a test ignition for the Beaver burn this morning sometime between 9AM-11AM to confirm if conditions are favorable to continue igniting the 89 acres planned for today. #LakeGeoRx

The key objectives for the Beaver burn is to reduce fuel loads and ladder fuels with the overall goal of reducing the potential for high intensity fires and lower the risk to adjacent private lands and homes. #LakeGeoRx
Photos by @PSICC


Beaver burn morning briefing. #LakeGeoRx

@PSICC:
Firefighters plan to do a test burn early today, 3 miles southwest of Lake George in the OBrien project area. If weather and fuel conditions are optimal, they will proceed and burn 100 ac of the 200-ac project. Smoke from this burn will be visible from Hwy 24. #LakeGeoRx

USFS_Pike&San Isabel @PSICC_NF 1m
Test ignition on the OBrien burn is in progress #LakeGeoRx

@PSICC 2hr
Firefighters have completed about 15% of today’s 100-ac OBrien burn. As each segment is ignited, engines and firefighters stand by to ensure the fire stays within the prescribed area before moving on to the next segment. #LakeGeoRx

1hr ago
Firing operations are going well with the OBrien burn, 3 miles southwest of Lake George. Expect increased smoke in the Lake George area and larger visible column over the next couple hours as the burn progresses. #LakeGeoRx

USFS_Pike&San Isabel @PSICC_NF 1h
Ignitions for today’s 100-acre OBrien burn are complete!

Firefighters will return tomorrow morning to the OBrien project. They will conduct another test ignition to ensure conditions are optimal to complete the remaining 100 acres of this project. The Beaver burn will remain postponed until weather and fuel conditions allow. #LakeGeoRx

@PSICC 1h
A light smokey haze west of Lake George from yesterday's OBrien burn. Firefighters will head out this morning to conduct another test burn to see if conditions are favorable to complete the remaining 100 acres on this project. #LakeGeoRX