COMMERCE CITY– Beginning Tuesday, January 2nd, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be conducting pile burning activities on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Weather permitting, the burns will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Smoke may be visible and people in the area may smell smoke.
The Refuge burns piles of woody debris (slash) in an effort of reducing hazardous fuels. These piles are made from the slash left after thinning and cutting trees (mostly invasive trees like Russian olive). Certain criteria must be met in order for these piles to burned, including smoke dispersal conditions, snow or other precipitation in the area, adequate staffing, and fuel moisture. These criteria are outlined in a burn plan that is thoroughly reviewed before implementation. All pile burns are conducted within the requirements of a smoke permit issued by the State of Colorado.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Flickr, and YouTube.
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