Smoke will be visible in Southeast Boulder today, but residents needn't worry or call 911, this is a planned event, as the City of Boulder undertakes prescribed pile burns to reduce wildfire risks. The activity, south of Highway 36 and east of Cherryvale Road, will commence after 10:30 a.m. and is expected to end by 3 p.m., although the city notes that lingering smoke may persist as crews work on putting out the fires.
According to the City of Boulder, these controlled burns are a safety measure, utilizing today's favorable weather conditions and recent snowfall the pile burns are intended to safely dispose of debris like branches, which have been collected from open spaces around the community, and this process should significantly minimize any chance of unplanned wildfires.
Local authorities are reminding residents that taking proactive measures on their properties is critical for community safety. Community members are urged to clean up and remove flammable debris, such as pine needles, branches, and leaves, to create a defensible space against the threat of wildfires, and to utilize green waste disposal to responsibly discard debris from private properties.
The city's fire management efforts are a collaborated endeavor, as Boulder Fire-Rescue, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office work in partnership to plan what goes into and execute prescribed burns like these residents who are interested in learning more about these preventive measures and the reasons behind them, can find detailed information on the city's prescribed burns portal accessible via the Boulder website.
