Prescribed Burn in Piedra Area
Temporary Trail, River and Area Closure Continues
Ignition specialist, Mark Lauer, of the San Juan Public Lands reported 1,000 acres successfully burned Monday in the Piedra Area of the San Juan National Forest. Winds were favorable for burning and smoke dispersal. Fire managers are pleased with the fire behavior and the amount of area burned. To meet air quality requirements, ignition ended at 3:30 p.m.
Burning continued Tuesday with fire fighters on the ground igniting followed by aerial ignition—the use of polystyrene sphere devices (PSD) dropped from a helicopter. A PSD is a sphere about the size of a ping pong ball that contains potassium permanganate. Thousands of spheres are loaded in a hopper that has a machine with four chutes. As they are dropped through the chute from the helicopter, the spheres are injected with ethylene glycol. They ignite in about 20 seconds, giving them time to fall and 5-10 seconds on the ground before they burn.
The Piedra Prescribed Burn is located within the Pagosa Ranger District about eighteen air miles northwest of Pagosa Springs, between Davis Creek, Coldwater Creek, and First Fork with Piedra River to the south. Snows upslope in wetter forest types will border the burn area to the north.
For public safety, closures to trails, river boating and areas will continue today and after the burn period. The Piedra River Trail (#596) and the area it accesses are closed to entry between the trailhead at First Fork and the junction with the Sand Creek Trail. The temporary closure began on the first day of the burn and may continue for two weeks or more.
The Piedra River is closed to any boating during the actual burning operations. Signs are posted at the Upper Piedra Trailhead and boat put-in.
The First Fork Road (#622) is currently closed at Sheep Creek/Monument Park Road West due to the condition of the road.
You may call the Pagosa Public Lands office of the San Juan Public Lands at 970-264-2268 to receive updates on the status of the Piedra Prescribed Burn and entry closures. A recording regarding the status of
the burn and associated closures is available at that number after hours and on weekends.
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