BLM planning to burn slash piles now through February 2015 in Grand County in the Mule Creek Area

News release provided by BLM public information officer.

The Bureau of Land Management Kremmling Field Office is planning to burn 75 slash piles of lodgepole pine now through February 2015 if weather conditions are favorable. Fire personnel burned 35 slash piles in December 2014.

Slash piles are burned when snow is at least three inches or more on the ground and the chance of fire spreading is unlikely. The burn pile locations are on BLM land and are the result of timber sales and salvage and/or fuel reduction treatments of beetle killed lodgepole pine.

The Mule Creek prescribed burn project area is eight miles south of Parshall off Grand County Road 3.

Smoke may be visible from Grand County Road 3 and the project area during the pile burning. Burn plans have been prepared and approved and ignition will only take place if weather and ground conditions are within specifically determined parameters that allow for safe and efficient operations. Smoke permits from the Colorado State Air Pollution Division are in place.

Removing and burning flammable debris will lower the risk of catastrophic wildland fire providing a safer environment for the public and firefighters.

Please contact Kevin Thompson Fire Management Specialist at 970-724-3033 for more information.