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Firefighters preparing for Blue Creek Prescribed Fire near Empire
Release Date: Nov 15, 2019
Contact(s): Travis Mason-Bushman
IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo.—November 15, 2019—On Tuesday, firefighters from the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and partner agencies plan to ignite the 270-acre Blue Creek Prescribed Fire, west of Empire. Through the application of carefully-managed fire to the landscape, the health of the forest ecosystem will be improved and hazardous accumulations of fuels will be removed.
The Blue Creek Prescribed Fire is intended specifically to improve habitat for the Georgetown herd of bighorn sheep, maintaining and restoring open areas that the herd requires for safety, communication, and forage. Additionally, the burn will encourage aspen regeneration and protect watersheds. Prescribed fire is just one component of an integrated project in the Empire area to reduce the risk of large, high-intensity wildfires and restore healthy forest conditions.
Approximately 35 firefighters will staff the burn, with support from a wide array of local fire agencies, including the Clear Creek Fire Authority, Evergreen Fire-Rescue, Grand County Fire-Rescue, Timberline Fire Protection District, Nederland Fire Department, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office fire crew, Boulder Fire Department, and Lefthand Fire Protection District.
Firefighters will ignite the Blue Creek Prescribed Fire only if conditions are determined to be suitable for the burn. Precipitation, wind, temperature, fuel moisture, and staffing all play a part in when and whether ignition occurs. Firefighters monitor the area after burning is complete. Public and firefighter safety is always the number-one priority in burning operations.
A map of the fire location is included. Smoke from the prescribed fire will likely be visible from I-70 and the Empire area. It is not necessary to report this smoke to emergency services dispatchers. Seeing flames and smoke, even after dark, is part of normal operations. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
If you know someone who would like to receive updates on prescribed burning activities on the Clear Creek Ranger District, have them send an e-mail to travis.a.mason-bushman@usda.gov and ask to be added to the Clear Creek Ranger District Prescribed Fire list. To unsubscribe, please reply with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
For more information on the Blue Creek Prescribed Fire, visit our InciWeb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6623.
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