The Dolores Ranger District is conducting several prescribed burns in the Boggy Draw area north of Dolores.
“Fire effects were excellent with moderate fire behavior,” said Matt Traynham, burn boss for the prescribed fire. The burn area covers 2,096 acres, and fire crews were utilizing hand and aerial ignitions.
Boggy Draw Unit 35 was ignited at 5 a.m. Tuesday by firefighters on the ground with drip torches, followed later in the morning and continuing through the late afternoon by aerial ignitions dropped from a helicopter.
According to the San Juan National Forest, after the aerial work was completed, ground crews continued lighting fires with drip torches. A plume was visible through much of the day, sending smoke eastward. Smoke will be visible for the next few days, likely settling in valleys and drainages overnight, and dissipating gradually over several days.
No further ignitions are planned on this specific unit, and the next few days work will consist of monitoring the burn.
This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ponderosa pine ecosystems and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed burning operations will begin only when weather, fuels and smoke parameters are met.
For more information, call 882-6838 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan.