Slash Pile Burns To Begin At Walker Ranch: County Alert

BOULDER, CO -- The first snow of the season has fallen–and that means it is time for prescribed burns on several Boulder County Open Space properties. In a press release Friday, Boulder County Parks and Open Space set a schedule for controlled burns on 85 acres at the Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain and up to 410 acres in two areas at Heil Valley Ranch sometime between now and Nov. 19. Slash pile burns could begin at Walker Ranch as early as this Sunday, Oct. 14.

Two agriculture properties, Wambsganss (N. 119th St. and Niwot Rd.) and Wittemeyer Ponds (N. 119th St. and Mineral Rd.), may also be burned as part of wildland fire training between Nov. 16 and Nov. 18.

Slash pile burning, conducted to reduce the amount of fuel on the ground as a result of thinning operations, will occur at Hall Ranch and Walker Ranch when there is sufficient snow cover to ensure safe fire operations and containment. Slash burns do not require park closures.

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In a press release, Boulder County reminded residents that smoke and flames, may be visible for days to weeks following a prescribed burn, and asked those who observe it not to call 911. The areas will be monitored until the fires are completely out.

Those with questions or concerns about the burns are asked to contact Boulder County Parks & Open Space Senior Forester Stefan Reinold at 303-678-6202 or sreinold@bouldercounty.org.

Updates will be posted to www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/burns.

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Photo courtesy Boulder County Parks and Open Space.