Summit County and area fire emergency officials announced prescribed pile burning operations at multiple sites throughout the county to reduce hazardous fuels.
The following is a joint press release with the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District, Summit Fire & EMS, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (DFPC) Wildfire Management Section, Colorado State Forest Service, the Summit County Sheriff's Office, and the Town of Breckenridge.
SUMMIT COUNTY – Summit County Open Space and Trails, in cooperation with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Red White & Blue Fire Protection District, the Town of Breckenridge, Summit Fire & EMS, the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) will conduct prescribed pile burning operations at multiple sites throughout the County. Burning will occur throughout the winter months beginning in November 2023 at multiple sites including the Mesa Cortina Open Space west of Silverthorne, Settler’s Creek Open Space east of Keystone, and Bacon Lode Open Space east of Breckenridge. Burn operations are expected to last a single day at each location, as weather and conditions allow. Smoke and flames will be visible during prescribed fire operations and piles may continue to smolder in days following operations.
The objective is to reduce hazardous fuels in and around the wildland-urban interface. Prescribed burning is the final phase of treatment for fuels reduction projects on lands owned by Summit County Open Space and the Town of Breckenridge. These projects are made possible through the Summit County Strong Future Fund.
Burning will be conducted only under specific guidelines and plans established by DFPC. This includes having acceptable weather and fuel conditions to meet the objectives for safe and effective burning and adequate smoke dispersal. Please do not call 911 to report smoke during these dates. Most smoke will dissipate during the day, but some may settle into valleys at night.
A virtual public meeting for interested residents is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, via Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID: 212 786 116 922, Passcode: jhxhDX). Click here to join the meeting or call (719) 501-2619 and use conference ID: 829 827 255# to join with audio.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For additional health-related information, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment or contact your doctor or health professional. Smoke sensitive individuals can contact Jordan Mead at Jordan.mead@summitcountyco.gov for specific notification prior to burning operations on Summit County Lands.
Media/Public Information Contacts:
Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District: Matt Benedict (970) 389-7017
Summit Fire & EMS: Steve Lipsher (970) 262-5100, ext. 125
Summit County: Sarah Wilkinson (970) 453-3409
DFPC Wildland Fire Management Section: Tracy LeClair (970) 841-9230