City of Longmont Parks & Natural Resources Department and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program plan to conduct slash pile burning at Button Rock Preserve (west of Lyons) from Wednesday, March 13 through Friday, March 15. These activities are weather dependent. Staff will monitor the piles until they are determined to be fully extinguished. Trail closures may be in effect in the immediate area of the project. See map of the project area below.

Pile burns are conducted to reduce the amount of fuel on the ground following forest thinning operations. Forest stewardship projects in the Preserve, including stand thinning, are focused on reducing wildfire risk and protecting the Ralph Price Reservoir, the drinking water source for Longmont and Lyons. Pile burns are scheduled when there is a winter weather system in the area. Operations will only be conducted when there is sufficient snow cover to ensure safe fire operations and containment.

Smoke and flames may be visible during slash pile burns as well as in subsequent days or even weeks. The area will be continuously monitored to ensure fires are completely out. Residents are asked to not call 911 since a prescribed burn is not an emergency.

Smoke from prescribed fires may affect health. Fire managers work with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to identify safe conditions to put smoke in the air. The CDPHE Wood Smoke and Health webpage and the Boulder County Public Health Wildfire Air Quality & Health webpage provide tips on how to protect health from smoke.

For additional information, contact City of Longmont Parks & Natural Resources Department at 303-651-8416. Any updates will be posted to longmontcolorado.gov/news.