The U.S. Forest Service said firefighters have successfully completed a prescribed burn on the Pawnee National Grassland that began Monday morning. Crews will temporarily remain to monitor the scene, the forest service said.
Earlier Monday, crews conducted a burn on approximately 895 acres located on the west side of the Pawnee National Grassland near Greeley beginning Monday morning.
After preliminary tests to check weather conditions, soil moisture and spark dispersal, fire crews determined the conditions were appropriate to continue with ignitions as of 8:15 a.m., said Reghan Cloudman, Pawnee National Grassland spokeswoman.
The burn was initially anticipated to take one or two days to complete, and Cloudman said smoke might be visible to nearby areas and from Colorado 14, which is approximately 15 miles from the burn site.
Prescribed burns on grassland areas “improves wildlife habitats, reduces risk of wildfire and helps reintroduce fire into the ecosystem,” according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Crews equipped with a minimum of 22 firefighters and six engines were present to monitor the burn until the fire was completely out, Cloudman said.
Natalie Munio: 303-954-1666, nmunio@denverpost.com or @nataliemunio
