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Little Snake North prescribed burns planned by USDA Forest Service
Release Date: Sep 27, 2019
Media Contact: Aaron Voos, (307)745-2323
(STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.) September 27, 2019 – Routt National Forest fire crews are planning to conduct multiple prescribed burns this fall near Crane Park in northern Routt County.
Should weather and fuel conditions allow, the Little Snake North burn units will consist of approximately 800 acres. Project location is 32 miles north of Steamboat Springs and five miles south of the Wyoming border. The project will be implemented in phases, with the initial burn taking place as early as the week of Sept. 30, on approximately 300 acres.
Crane Park is west of Forest Road 550, north of Forest Road 503, and east of Routt County Road 129. Forest Road 502 road bisects two of the planned burn units. The burns will take place on National Forest System lands managed by the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District.
Crews will use drip torches to carry out burning operations over the course of multiple days. Suitable weather and fuel moisture will determine the exact date of the burns. Operations will not commence unless conditions are favorable to implement safe and effective burns.
The burn units are comprised of a mix of mountain shrubs, grasses and aspen. Smoke may be visible from some areas during burning operations but should subside each evening. USDA Forest Service fire crews will monitor the burned areas following operations until the fires are safely out.
The Little Snake North burns are designed primarily to improve wildlife habitat for deer and elk. They will also provide a secondary benefit of removing hazardous fuels.
Prescribed burning is a versatile forest management tool that can mimic historically natural fire disturbances, reduce hazardous fuels buildup, and improve habitat for a variety of wildlife.
The planned prescribed burning is in line with USDA Forest Service 2019 key fire emphasis areas of: Safe and Effective Wildfire Response, Resilient Landscapes, and Fire Adapted Communities.
Smoke from all prescribed fires is closely monitored to ensure that the conditions for smoke dispersal, developed in collaboration with the Colorado Air Pollution and Control Division, are being met. These conditions reduce the likelihood of undesired smoke impacts.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see: www.colorado.gov/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
For more project information contact Fuels Specialist Lance Broyles, (970) 870-2182 or District Ranger Tara Umphries, (970) 870-2149.
Routt National Forest information may also be found on this website, https://fs.usda.gov/mbr, or you can follow the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland on Twitter, @FS_MBRTB.