WOODLAND PARK – Rangers with The Pike National Forest plan to hold several prescribed burns this winter in several locations within El Paso and Teller counties.
The burns are made up of piles of debris including small tree tops and limbs that were cut in fire mitigation efforts around recreation areas, reservoirs and private property.
The burn locations are in several places across the Pikes Peak Ranger District.
Here’s a quick look at the general locations:
- The first area is on the north/northeast side of Pikes Peak along the Pike’s Peak Highway and near the reservoirs.
- The second area consists of several locations located north of Divide along County Road 51 and 25, along Forest Service Roads 357 and 364, and along the 717 trail between the Phantom Creek trailhead and Forest Service Road 355.
- The third area is located near Raspberry Mountain along Forest Service Road 399. Several piles are located near the Crags trailhead and Raspberry Mountain resulting from an operation to remove hazardous trees (killed by spruce beetle).
- A fourth area is located just off Painted Rocks Road (County Road 78).
The burns are expected to start as early as this month and stretch into the spring of 2019.
Smoke from these burns is expected to be visible from Woodland Park as well as Colorado Springs.
The burns are not expected to take place unless the weather conditions are suitable and smoke impacts to the surrounding community is unlikely.
