Fire Management

Like many other areas managed for wildlife and biodiversity, fire at Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is a management tool. Through tedious planning and careful observation, fires are used to remove exotic species and and clear out excess fuels. These prescribed burns typically occur during the winter and spring months when moisture levels are highest to help prevent unintended damage.

The Refuge is a member of the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Program. This is an interagency effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, and the National Weather Service. One interagency type-6 engine is stationed at the Refuge each fire season. The primary duty of this engine is to respond to wildland fires in the lands around the Refuge.