Prescribed
Burn
at Bosque
del Oso
Information
and Photos by Jen Chase
On Tuesday May 25th and Wednesday May
26th the Colorado State Forest Service conducted a prescribed
burn at the Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area, near
Weston, Colorado west of Trinidad.
In
2003 the Colorado State Forest Service thinned many
of the Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees in an effort
to reduce future forest fires. The prescribed fire
complements the thinning done by chain saw and forestry
machinery to reduce fuels, like tree branches and needles,
that had previously accumulated to an unhealthy level,
and otherwise could have been fodder for wildfire.
The prescribed fire not only reduced forest materials
and wildfire hazards, but it will also benefit wildlife,
by returning nutrients to the soil, and stimulating native
plants like grasses and shrubs that animals like deer,
elk and bear can forage.
Despite average
snowfall in the area, fuel moistures were at 10% in
the larger fuels, most
likely due to desiccating
winds. The fuels burned more like they would have in
a less than average snow season. Plenty of resources – firefighters
and fire engines were on hand to conduct the prescribed
fire in a safe and effective manner.
Present assisting on the prescribed fire
were: Colorado State Forest Service, Stonewall Fire Department,
Colorado
Division of Wildlife, and Boulder Fire-Rescue (and
other fire departments).
9 acres were burned Tuesday, 2 Wednesday, and more
were planned for today.
Here are more photos taken during the prescribed
burn.
This photo says it all!
This is why
our volunteer firefighters are so appreciated here
and
why we encourage you to support them as much as you can!
Thanks
to Jen Chase for sharing the photos of the Prescribed
Burn
Jen Chase
9737 Rhodus Street
Conifer, CO 80433
303.816.5886
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~jchase/lec.html