COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Two scheduled prescribed burns in Colorado might catch your eye, but officials stress the plumes of smoke are part of planned vegetation control and should not be reported to 911.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it is conducting a prescribed burn at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Commerce City on Monday.
The burn was scheduled between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. with more burns scheduled over the coming weeks.According to a news release, the agency planned over the course of several weeks to burn up to 2,305 acres in an effort to “reinvigorate the growth of native prairie vegetation, reduce accumulated litter, manage efforts for weed control and improve habitat to sustain wildlife.”
Monday’s efforts would result in the burning of around 500 acres, said David Lucas of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Additionally, residents in northeast Boulder might see plumes of smoke on Monday, but the fires are part of a prescribed burn that will continue through the afternoon hours.