MONTROSE, Colo — The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office plans to conduct a broadcast prescribed burn this fall between September – October. This prescribed burn will occur on BLM lands southwest of Olathe near the BLM/Forest Service boundary along the Transfer Road.
“The Transfer Road prescribed burn project will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the area by reducing hazardous fuels that can contribute to extreme fire behavior,” said Cam Shaughnessy, BLM Fuels Specialist. This year, local fires—including the South Rim, Turner Gulch and Sowbelly—were characterized by extreme fire behavior due in part to the high concentration of woody material that can easily ignite. This treatment will also improve important habitat for game species for elk and deer.”
Specific timing of the prescribed burn will depend on favorable weather and fire conditions, which BLM will monitor closely. Crews will be on site for the duration of the burn. Smoke will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas. Firefighters will be on site throughout the day of ignition and will periodically patrol the burns for several days afterward.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please visit the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division’s website at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
For general information, contact John Wroblewski, Southwest District Fire Mitigation Specialist, at (970) 240-5335 or visit: https://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit and Inciweb.wildfire.gov
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