The San Juan Forest’s Dolores District is planning 3,000 acres of prescribed burns in the coming months, reports District Ranger Derek Padilla.
The low-intensity fires are designed to reduce fuel loads in overstocked forests as a way to mitigate the risk of large wildfires. If conditions warrant, the burns will take place beginning in September in Lost Canyon, in the Glade area near the guard station, and around Carlisle Point.
Padilla said the goal is to ramp up prescribed burns in the area with a target of burning 3,000 to 6,000 acres per year.
“We need to address the high fuel levels out there,” he said.