Agencies plan prescribed burns in area

COLORADO — Federal officials are planning several prescribed burns for areas in Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties.

The goal of the prescribed burns is to reduce fuel for any wildfires and improve wildlife habitat, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

The burns will be conducted when weather, moisture, and fuel conditions allow, according to the agency. The window for the prescribed burns will be mid-April to the end of May.

The following prescribe burns will occur in the area, according to the BLM:

• The Prince Creek prescribed burn is four miles south of Carbondale and involves approximately 195 acres of Bureau of Land Management land. This burn completes an oak-brush-thinning project started last fall to help protect private lands and homes from wildfire. For additional information contact Ody Anderson, 970-947-2810.

• The Derby prescribed burn is six miles west of Burns and 15 miles north of Gypsum. Approximately 300 acres of White River National Forest lands will be burned to reduce natural fuel build-up in the Ponderosa pine forest and improve wildlife habitat. For additional information contact Eric Rebitzke, 970-328-5892.
Three other prescribed fires will be conducted in oak brush and mixed mountain shrubs to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the amount of fuel for wildfires:

• The 1,200-acre Coulter Mesa burn is planned on White River National Forest and BLM lands 13 miles northeast of Rifle. For more information, contact John Seemann, 970-878-6018.

• The 1,500-acre Snell Rock burn is located 20 miles northeast of Meeker on White River National Forest lands. For more information, contact John Seemann, 970-878-6018.

• The 1,390-acre Sweetwater burn is 10 miles northwest of Dotsero on BLM and White River National Forest lands. For additional information contact Eric Rebitzke, 970-328-5892.