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Environment | 500-acre prescribed burn scheduled for Rocky…
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500-acre prescribed burn scheduled for Rocky Mountain Arsenal on Monday

Smoke will be visible from city, officials say

U.S. Fish and Wildlife firefighter Joe Murphy, left, and Denver firefighter Jordan Smith, right, keep an eye on the fire along the road during prescribed burn at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge on April 5, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Federal land managers at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge conducted a controlled burn in an effort to invigorate about 875 acres of short-grass prairie just north of Denver. Several fire agencies, including the US Fish and Wildlife service and crews from Douglas County, Denver Fire, Westminster Fire, South Adams County Fire and Division of Fire Prevention and Control provided help in the prescribed burn. Federal ecologists favor prescribed burns as a smart and cost-efficient tool for restoring degraded landscapes.The burning was to be done between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday and smoke was visible for several miles...Burning the prairie is expected to boost the growth of native vegetation, with a side benefit of reducing litter strewn about by visitors. The flames also help control weeds and improve habitat for wildlife. And controlled burns help manage the risks of uncontrolled wildfires close to housing developments. Restoring native prairie has proved difficult but gradually is succeeding, ensuring a safe space for wildlife. A herd of about 200 bison now thrives at the refuge. Each foraging bison eats about 40 pounds a day of dry grass. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife firefighter Joe Murphy, left, and Denver firefighter Jordan Smith, right, keep an eye on the fire along the road during prescribed burn at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge on April 5, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Federal land managers at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge conducted a controlled burn in an effort to invigorate about 875 acres of short-grass prairie just north of Denver. Several fire agencies, including the US Fish and Wildlife service and crews from Douglas County, Denver Fire, Westminster Fire, South Adams County Fire and Division of Fire Prevention and Control provided help in the prescribed burn. Federal ecologists favor prescribed burns as a smart and cost-efficient tool for restoring degraded landscapes.The burning was to be done between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday and smoke was visible for several miles…Burning the prairie is expected to boost the growth of native vegetation, with a side benefit of reducing litter strewn about by visitors. The flames also help control weeds and improve habitat for wildlife. And controlled burns help manage the risks of uncontrolled wildfires close to housing developments. Restoring native prairie has proved difficult but gradually is succeeding, ensuring a safe space for wildlife. A herd of about 200 bison now thrives at the refuge. Each foraging bison eats about 40 pounds a day of dry grass. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
By | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
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Fire crews will burn about 500 acres at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge on Monday in a prescribed burn that will produce smoke visible for several miles.

The fire will be in the southwest section of the refuge, according to an alert from the refuge’s X account.

The , the agency that manages the refuge, plans to burn up to 2,305 acres over four weeks; Monday is the beginning of the project.

The burns will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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