South Platte Ranger District Plans Prescribed Burns for Fall Season 2019

Pike & San Isabel National Forests Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands South Platte Ranger District
30403 Kings Valley Drive, Suite 2-115
Conifer, CO 80433
(303) 275-5610
www.fs.usda.gov/psicc

News Release
Media Contact: Joe Sean Kennedy (303) 275-5610 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

South Platte Ranger District Plans Prescribed Burns for Fall Season
Up to 1,600 acres on five different units planned

CONIFER, Colo., September 19, 2019 – Fire managers on the South Platte Ranger District of the Pike National Forest plan to burn up to 1,600 acres of National Forest System lands this fall and into spring. “We have five separate units at different elevations prepped, which should allow us to catch at least a couple of them when conditions line up and resources are available,” explained Brian Banks, District Ranger. The names of the planned prescribed fires are as follows:

Jefferson County
Sand Springs – The North Fork Fire Protection District Chief has volunteered to be the holding boss during this burn. If a window for this burn looks likely, the Forest Service will hold a public meeting.

Saloon – This project area is mostly surrounded by roads, which serve as ready-made holding lines.

Park County
Harris Park – The Platte Canyon Fire Protection District Chief has volunteered to be the holding boss during this burn. This prescribed burn follows mechanical treatments done by the Forest Service. This project is at approximately 9200’ in elevation, so the right window will likely be harder to meet.

Douglas County
Jenny Gulch – This project will include a portion of private land through an agreement under the Wyden amendment, and has been prescribed burned in the past.

Noddles – This area was logged in the 1980s and masticated in 2000, and this will be the Forest Service’s first entry with prescribed fire.

The Forest Service will provide specific notifications for each burn prior to implementing. If you have questions about any of these projects, and/or would like to receive notification about them via email, please send your request to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Prescribed fire is part of a science-based framework for managing ponderosa pine and dry mixed-conifer forests like the Pike National Forest to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire and allow low-intensity fire to play its natural role in a frequent-fire ecosystem. Each prescribed burn is designed to meet specific objectives and will be managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.

Ignitions will take place when weather and fuel conditions are such that the fire behavior will be within the limitations written in the burn plans and when substantial smoke impacts are unlikely to affect the surrounding communities. If burning does take place, it may continue from several days to several weeks. Smoke may linger in the air after ignition is completed and be visible from areas such as

Sprucewood and Deckers in Douglas County, Conifer and Pine Junction in Jefferson County, and Bailey in Park County. Smoke may also be visible from as far away as Evergreen, Castle Rock, Woodland Park, and the Denver Metropolitan Area.

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

For additional information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @PSICC_NF, #SouthPlatteRD, #SandSpringsRx, #HarrisParkRx, #JennyGulchRx, #SaloonRx, #NoddlesRx. You may also call the South Platte Ranger District Fire Management Officer at 303-275-5610 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The first community meeting has been scheduled. It will be hosted by North Fork Fire Rescue, Station 1, 19384 Hwy 126, Buffalo Creek CO 80470 on October 1 starting at 7pm.

USFS_Pike&San Isabel
Pike National Forest plans pile burning near woodland Park, CO. Pile burning will begin as weather allows. Follow #PikesPeakRD for pile burning alerts. For more information: