Why would the Forest Service intentionally start a fire?
Learn more about prescribed fires from our Archuleta County Coordinator for the Wildfire Adapted Partnership in this informative post. Here is an excerpt:
The Pagosa Ranger District is planning to use fire to treat two areas that have been mechanically treated in the past. Brockover Mesa/Turkey Springs and Eight Mile Mesa have been chosen because the undergrowth has grown back to the point where wildfire could threaten populated areas. Months of preparation has gone into preparing these areas for burning in a controlled area. Lines have been established to contain the brush burns. Moisture levels, weather, predicted wind speeds and a host of other information is constantly evaluated before any ignition occurs. On the ground crews constantly monitor fire to make sure it doesn’t spill over out of the prescribed area. After the fire, they will remain vigilant until they are sure that it cannot reignite…