Expect smoke as BLM burns piles on Lookout Mountain
The Bureau of Land Management intends to begin burning slash piles on Lookout Mountain this week to dispose of brush piles collected several years ago.
Smoke may be visible east of Glenwood Springs as the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management crews begin burning the piles. Wind, weather and atmospheric conditions might be suitable for fire crews to begin burning the piles this week. The burn is expected to take two days.
“We look for days when conditions are good for safe, effective burning and dispersing smoke away from area communities,” BLM fuels specialist Chad Sewell said in a statement.
In 2016 the BLM gathered around 200 slash piles collected from thinning mountain shrubs near the Lookout Mountain communications site to reduce fire risk. Fire crews burned some of the piles in November 2017, but around 100 piles remain, the BLM said.
The BLM cautioned that people with certain health conditions like respiratory diseases might be affected by the short-term exposure to smoke. Those with medical sensitivity to smoke should contact Sewell at 970-876-9030.
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