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Prescribed burn scheduled Thursday, Friday at Ron Stewart Preserve

Park will be closed during burning
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Wildflowers at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain

Weather permitting, Boulder County Parks and Open Space and the Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program plan to conduct a prescribed burn on Thursday and Friday at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain, east of Lyons.

The park will be closed to ensure public safety during burning. 

Fire managers plan to continue the prescribed fire operations in the Arapaho project area that began in the late summer of 2017.

As with all prescribed burns, conditions must meet certain criteria for the burn to take place. Fire personnel will stop burning if weather conditions such as gusty winds do not allow for a safe operation or if the situation becomes unsafe for any reason.

To determine if conditions are suitable for ignitions, fire managers assess fuel moisture levels and continuously monitor current and projected weather forecasts. Weather considerations include wind, temperature, relative humidity and air quality.

Smoke and flames may be visible for days to weeks following a prescribed burn. There may be heavy smoke in the air. The public is asked to not call 911 since a prescribed burn is not an emergency. The areas will be monitored to ensure fires are completely out.

Smoke from prescribed fires may affect health. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Wood Smoke and Health website and the Boulder County Public Health Wildfire Air Quality & Health website provide tips on how to protect health from smoke. 

Updates will be posted to boco.org/burns and shared on the Boulder County Parks & Open Space Facebook and Twitter pages.