Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

Pawnee National Grassland

Boulder Ranger District

Contact: Reid Armstrong, 970-222-7607

Find this news online: www.fs.usda.gov/arp

Winter conditions mark the start of pile burning season

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 15, 2018) – With fresh snow on the ground across higher elevation areas of Boulder and Gilpin counties, crews from the Roosevelt National Forest’s Boulder Ranger District could start burning slash piles resulting from fuels reductions and hazardous tree removal projects in the area. Pile burning could begin as early as next week in areas where snow is on the ground and will continue through the spring, as conditions allow.  

Hand piles are a result of crews using chainsaws to thin the forest. Much of the smaller cut material is piled for burning. Machine piles are the result of using logging equipment and consist of primarily the limbs of trees as most of the logs have already been removed. Both types of piles are burned in winter months when snow, precipitation and cooler temperatures help contain the piles.

Piles are only ignited under favorable weather conditions. Adequate snow cover, precipitation, wind, temperature, fuel moisture and staffing all play a part in when and whether ignition occurs. Piles that are cured and ready for burning are prioritized based on elevation, aspect, access, and proximity to homes.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. To check the latest updates on when burning will occur, follow us on Twitter and Facebook @usfsarp. To get added to our weekly email notification list, send an email to krarmstrong@nullfs.fed.us and ask to be added to the Clear Creek Pile Burning list. For a complete list of where burning is occurring this season as well as updated accomplishments and photos, visit our Inciweb Page at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4648.

Areas on the Boulder Ranger District (Gilpin and Boulder Counties) with hand and machine piles ready for burning:

• Lump Gulch 8: 12 acres of hand piles or approximately 200 individual piles; Potential smoke impacts: Coal Creek Canyon or Highway 72, possibly Pinecliffe; General Location: Nederland High School, Big Springs subdivision.
• Lump Gulch 18: 25 acres of hand piles or approximately 2000 individual piles; Potential smoke impacts: Hwy 119 Peak to Peak Hwy, Rollinsville, Shoshoni Yoga Retreat, Nederland . General Location: Gilpin County  ½ mile North of Rollinsville on Westside of Hwy 119 Peak to Peak.
• Lump Gulch 35: 12 acres of hand piles or approximately 500 individual piles; Potential smoke impacts: Hwy 119  Peak to Peak, Rollinsville, Snowline lake Area; General Location: Gilpin County South Side of Gilpin Rd,  3 miles South of Rollinsville on Westside of Hwy 119 Peak to Peak. 
• Lump Gulch 38: 25 acres of hand piles or approximately 2000 individual piles; Potential smoke impacts: Mountain Meadows Subdivision, Nederland, to Peak Peak Hwy 119, Rollinsville and Pinecliffe .General Location: Gilpin County off South Beaver Rd (South Side) mile East of Hwy 119
• Sugarloaf Unit 4: 19 acres of hand piles or approx. 475 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Gold Hill; General location: 1.75 miles west of Gold Hill. 5 miles off Peak to Peak Highway on County Road 52.
• James Creek RFB Unit 1: 32 acres of hand piles or approx. 800 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Jamestown Bar- K; General location: 1.5 Northwest of Jamestown, west of County Road 87.
• James Creek RFB Units 6, 7, 8: 300 acres of hand piles or approx. 7,500 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Jamestown, Bar K Ranch; General location: Half mile south of Jamestown or quarter mile East of Bar K Ranch.
• James Creek Unit RFB Unit 10 130 acres of hand piles or approx. 3,250 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Lefthand Canyon and Gold Hill; General location: 2 miles east of Peak to Peak Highway on Highway 52.
• James Creek RFB Units 12, 13, 5, 3: 500 of Hand piles or approx. 10000 piles Potential smoke impacts: Ward, Bar K subdivision Gold Lake, Jamestown Gold Hill, Rowena Boulder Heights Subdivision; General location: 1 Mile East of Gold lake and 5 miles west of Hwy 36 in Lefthand Canyon.
• James Creek RFB 17 57 acres of hand piles or approx. 1425 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Highway 7; General location: Half-mile north Cal-Wood Ranch.
• James Creek Units M0501 M0503 150 acres of hand piles or approx. 4,500 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Ward, Bar K subdivision, Gold Lake, Jamestown Gold Hill, Rowena; General location: Gold Lake Rd 1 East of Peak to Peak Hwy. [30 acres remaining]
• James Creek Units M0502, M3202, H3101: 200 acres of hand piles or approx. 4,000 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Ward, Bar K subdivision Gold Lake, Jamestown Gold Hill, Rowena; General location: Peak to Peak Hwy 1 mile North of Ward Gold Lake and County Rd 100 and 103. [50 acres remaining]
• James Creek Unit M0801: 150 acres of hand piles or approx. 2,000 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Peaceful Valley, Raymond, Riverside, Allenspark, Bar K Subdivision; General location: Quarter mile west of Raymond.
• James Creek Unit M1602: 50 acres of hand and machine or approx. 100 individual piles; Potential smoke impacts: Lefthand Canyon and Gold Hill; General location: 3 miles east of Peak to Peak Highway on Highway 52.
• James Creek Unit H1501 M1603 M401 M1603: 500 acres of hand piles or approx. 5,000 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Sky View Estates, Glacier View , Bar K subdivision Gold Lake, Jamestown; General location: 2 miles east of Peak to Peak on Overland Rd.
• James Creek Units M3401, M3501, M3502: 300 acres hand and machine 500 hands piles 100 machine piles; Potential smoke impacts: Ward, Bar K subdivision, Gold Lake, Jamestown, Gold Hill, Rowena; General location: 1 Mile East of Gold Lake.
• James Creek Units H3401; H3402: 55 acres of hand piles or approx. 450 hand piles and machine piles; Potential smoke impacts: Boulder Heights Subdivision; General location: Boulder Heights Subdivision, East of Peak View Road and Peak View Circle
• Gill 37 acres of hand piles or approx. 925 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Jamestown; General location: Quarter mile south of Jamestown.
• St Vrain Units 13d, 14a, 14c 456 acres of hand piles or approx. 11,400 piles; Potential smoke impacts: Big Elk Subdivision; General location: Johnny Park Road or 82E, 1 mile west of Big Elk Subdivision.
• St Vrain 12A 12B 12d 200 acres of hand piles or approx. 6,000 piles Potential smoke impacts: Allenspark Park, County Rd 82 Area Meeker Park; General Location: In the town of Meeker Park