The USDA Forest Service plans to conduct a 150-acre prescribed (area) burn as early as Tuesday, Oct. 26, on Pike National Forest land 11 miles southwest of Sedalia. It will occur in ponderosa pine and Douglas fir vegetation near Moonridge and Sprucewood, two communities evacuated for nearly two weeks during the 2002 Hayman Fire. Smoke from the burn is expected to be visible to much of the southwest metro Denver area.

The Russell Ridge burn will be a low-intensity burn. This is the second phase of treatment designed to not only provide an additional level of safety from wildfires for nearby residents and property, but will create a healthier forest by promoting better habitat for wildlife and reducing competition for nutrients among the remaining trees and vegetation. This area underwent mechanical thinning in 2002 to reduce overly dense vegetation and ladder fuels. A portion of the area was treated with prescribed fire in October 2003.

The prescribed burn is expected to be completed in one to two days, weather, smoke dispersal and other environmental conditions permitting. If weather conditions preclude burning as scheduled, the burn will be attempted as soon as conditions permit. U.S. Forest Service and local fire agency cooperators will conduct the burn and be on site through the course of the burn as well as patrol the area the evening of the burn.

This Russell Ridge burn area is part of the 2,850-acre Nighthawk treatment area which is part of the larger 17,400-acre Upper South Platte Watershed Project. This is a national-focus project designed to protect and rehabilitate the Upper South Platte Watershed that provides metropolitan Denver with 80 percent of its drinking water.

As with all of our prescribed burning activities, ignition for these burns can only take place when weather and fuel conditions are such that the fire will be of low intensity, smoke impacts to surrounding communities are minimized and the burn meets all the conditions of a detailed burn plan approved by the Colorado State Air Pollution Control Division. A final decision to conduct the burn will be made by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26 and at the same time on subsequent scheduled burn days for the project.