The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks and Fire-Rescue departments are planning to conduct prescribed burning on city open space lands west of the city’s Flatirons Vista Trailhead this fall.
This prescribed burning south of Boulder could occur between Tuesday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 30, depending on weather conditions.
Fire is an important part of Boulder’s native ecosystems and is essential for cycling nutrients, keeping weeds in check and stimulating the growth of native plant species. Prescribed burning in grassland ecosystems west of the Flatirons Vista Trailhead will help enhance habitat for native plant and wildlife species, improve forage for ranching operations in the area and reduce fuels that would otherwise increase fire intensity in the event of a wildfire. The prescribed burn also will provide city wildland firefighters, OSMP staff and cooperating agencies with wildfire training opportunities.
OSMP may close all or portions of the following trails while this burning occurs:
- Greenbelt Connector
- Prairie Vista
- Flatirons Vista North
- Flatirons Vista South
Ignitions will begin after 10 a.m., and will end before 4 p.m. Community members, open space visitors and motorists along state Highway 93 and U.S. Highway 36 will see smoke from this planned burn. Open space visitors may also see residual smoke after this burn has been completed. OSMP encourages community members to access OSMPTrails.org to plan alternate open space destinations should burning occur.
The City of Boulder only conducts prescribed burning if, and when, weather and vegetation conditions are acceptable to assure the safety of the public, to minimize the potential impacts of smoke and to meet fire-management objectives. Boulder Fire-Rescue will supervise the planned burn, and firefighters will monitor the burn until it is safely extinguished. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. Learn more at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health
For information about prescribed burning, please visit: https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/planned-burns or call OSMP at 303-441-3440
Published: Sept. 20, 2019
Media Contacts:
Phillip Yates, Open Space and Mountain Parks, 303-349-2438
Shannon Aulabaugh, Police and Fire PIO, 303-441-3370
Bryan Rachal, Deputy Communications Director, 303-441-3155
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