The city of Durango and Durango Fire Protection District will evaluate conditions for conducting controlled burns beginning Monday following a weekend snowstorm.
The burns are meant to reduce wildfire danger ahead of next year’s wildfire season, said city spokesman Tom Sluis. The burns will be conducted in the Ella Vita area near Overend Mountain Park, Jacob’s Cliff near Dalla Mountain Park, Twin Buttes Open Space and Oxbow Park.
“These are annual events that take place when the hazard conditions for fires are minimal and it’s safe to remove some of the undergrowth around the trees in our wildland-urban interface areas,” Sluis said in a text message to The Durango Herald. “There is no need for the public to call 911 or Central Dispatch if they happen to see smoke.”
DFPD Wildfire Battalion Chief Scott Nielsen said the department plans to burn piles of logs and slash from past forest clearing projects in areas where houses and forest land come into contact, known as the wildland-urban interface.
“We burn piles because it’s more controlled,” Nielsen said. “We’re probably looking to burn mitigation from over 100 acres.”
Nielsen said somewhere between 1,200 to 1,500 piles of slash have been drying all summer and fall. With recent rain and hopefully snowfall in lower elevations, the piles should be able to be burned with minimal risk, he said.
“We do all of our pile burning in the city or near homes with snow on the ground,” Nielsen said. “The snow really moderates fire behavior. (Burning with snow) is a great way to do it safely, so you don’t have spread.”
In addition to ensuring there is a high enough moisture level, the department waits to make sure smoke generated from the burns does not sink into valleys and impact residents.
“I’m just trying to not smoke people out during the holidays,” Nielsen said. “We have to make sure we have what’s called ventilation, which is basically how smoke lifts into the air and dissipates. On really cold mornings in town, you can see a layer of smoke in the city limits. We won’t burn on those days because we’re trying to maintain state air-quality regulations.”
Nielsen asked resident to avoid calling 911 or the fire department to report smoke unless they perceive an actual emergency. DFPD is required to post notifications on social media, email homeowners and work with the Colorado Department of Transportation to post messaging along roadways about the smoke, he said.
“We ask that people be observant of all the signs and messaging up before they call 911,” Nielsen said.
Trail systems near the burn areas will remain open through the operation. Nielsen urged recreators to be cautious while running or riding bikes, and to keep their dogs on-leash.
“Just be observant,” Nielsen said. “Watch out for our people. Keep your dogs away from piles and don’t hit us with your bike. People in Durango are pretty gracious and pretty understanding.”
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
