Today’s Forest Health Outreach update covers the following:
*Forestry Tip of the Day: A Quiet Fire Season – So Far
*Event: Wed. Aug. 27 – “Good Fire, Bad Fire” and a Planned Burn at Heil Valley Ranch
*Videos: from the Colorado State Forest Service
*Sort Yard: Noxious Weeds, Grass Clippings, and Pine Needles
*Forest Service Responds to an Increase in Unattended Campfires

*Forestry Tip of the Day: A Quiet Fire Season – So Far
Forestry Tip of the Day: This summer we have been able to breathe a sigh of relief as the Front Range has seen a quiet fire season. A recent Daily Camera article provides a nice overview of the current wildfire season and provides good tips as we move into fall.

Article Link: http://www.dailycamera.com/top-stories/ci_26375399/boulder-county-front-range-see-quiet-fire-season

Here are a couple of great quote from Jay Stalnacker, Fire Management Officer, Boulder County Sheriff Office “Our concern locally is really what the moisture and the rain and green-up is doing to our fuels,” Stalnacker said. “Our main fire carrier is the grass and our brushes. That’s truly what causes our fire to spread. Our concern is the tall grasses; we have not seen grass this high, I think, in 10-plus years. At numerous locations throughout the county, wild grasses have grown 4 to 6 feet high; that could be volatile fuel, once autumn arrives with its occasionally robust, drying winds.”

If you haven’t already now is an important time to make sure your home is prepared for a fast moving grass fire. Grab a weed whip and make sure all your grasses are cut to less than 6 inches within 30 feet of all structures. For extra protection cut under large trees and along roads and driveways.

*Event: Wed. Aug. 27 – Good Fire, Bad Fire – and a Planned Burn at Heil
Don’t forget to attend the expert panel discussion on the effective use of prescribed fire, tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. The panel will discuss the historical role fire played in our Front Range forests and how the use of prescribed fire can help return portions of our forest to a healthy state. In addition, Parks and Open Space will share info about a planned prescribed burn that will take place this fall at Heil Valley Ranch. We will discuss the benefits of prescribed fire, the risks and the precautions we take to ensure a safe and ecologically effective burn.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Parks and Open Space, 5201 St. Vrain Road, Longmont

Panel of Wildfire Specialists to include:
• Peter M. Brown, Director, Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research
• Michael Frary, Prescribed Fire Manager, State of Colorado,  Division of Fire Prevention and Control
• Jay Stalnacker, Fire Management Officer, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
Questions?  Contact bcforestry@nullbouldercounty.org or 303-678-6206.

*Videos: Colorado State Forest Service- worth a look
The Colorado State Forest service released a, four-segment video on forest conditions in Colorado, forest threats and challenges, and solutions to forest health problems. Each segment is under 10 minutes and well worth watching. Over the next couple of weeks will share all four segments.

We highly recommend watching the first segment titled “Past, Present and Future” here: http://vimeo.com/87307649

*Sort Yard: Noxious Weeds, Grass Clippings, and Pine Needles
New this year; we now accept yard waste at both sort yards. There has been a bit of confusion about how to haul this type material, so we thought we send out some clarification.

When Hauling Slash, Logs and Yard Waste:
• All material must be securely tied down
• Keep all types of material (logs, slash and yard waste) separate within the load. Each type of material is unloaded in a different location.
• Haul yard waste (pine needles, grass clippings, pine cones, and bark mulch) in reusable containers.

When Hauling Noxious Weeds:
• Special hauling requirements are in place to limit the spread of noxious weeds during transport.
• Haul noxious weeds (the whole plant) in sealed compostable brown bags (exception thistles and mullein).
• For thistles and mulleins, the flower section can be cut from the stem of the plant and bagged. The flower section contains the seeds.

Sort Yards Do Not Accept:
• Do not drop-off any construction materials, root balls, stumps, dirt, furniture, household trash or wood with metal wire on/in.

*Forest Service Responds to an Increase in Unattended Campfires
Take a look at this press release from the US Forest Service about an increase in unattended campfires in the area. The article includes some great tips on how to safely build and fully extinguish campfires.

Read it here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3812169

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
720-564-2641 | rludlow@nullbouldercounty.org
www.BoulderCounty.org/ForestHealth
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