The National Forest Service will conduct broadcast burns in Sauls Creek just northeast of Bayfield and south of U.S. Highway 160 on Saturday and Sunday.
Spokeswoman Lorena Williams said in an email to The Durango Herald that the burns, which clear flammable material from the forest floor to reduce the risk of wildfires, will encompass 255 acres.
“Saturday, firefighters will burn one unit that is roughly 100 acres, and Sunday, they will burn two additional units for 155 additional acres,” Williams said. “These units first saw prescribed fire in 2014, and a portion of it was subsequently logged in 2022. Slash piles resulting from the logging operations were burned in December, 2022.”
The weekend’s broadcast burns are meant to follow up on those fuel reduction projects and make progress toward the overarching strategy to reduce fire risk to adjacent communities, Williams said.
Conditions have been deemed safe for the prescribed burns, Williams said. Additionally, a moist weather system is expected to arrive on Monday.
“Smoke will be visible from south Durango, Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns,” Williams said.
Regularly updated information on the burns can be found on the Forest Service’s Facebook page or on inciweb.wildfire.gov.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
