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Controlled Agricultural Burns Scheduled Across Boulder County This Week

Boulder County Parks and Open Space, along with the Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program, will conduct controlled agricultural burns at multiple locations starting as early as March 10 to manage vegetation and prepare land for spring seeding.
Steven Middendorp
Steven Middendorp
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Longmont Public Safety shared a public notice on Sunday regarding controlled agricultural burns being conducted by Boulder County Parks and Open Space and the Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Program. The agricultural fires will commence this week, as early as Monday. 

 

There are multiple locations where the burns will be conducted:

  • Pella Crossing (75th and Hygiene Rd.) March 10-14
  • Wittemyer Ponds (Mineral Rd. and E. County Line Rd.) March 10-14
  • Jim Henry Ditch (Oxford Rd. and 115th St.) dates TBA
  • Boulder County Fairgrounds (9595 Nelson Rd.) dates TBA
  • Faul and Kragh Ditch (115th St. between Vermillion Rd. and Wasatch Rd.) dates TBA

 

Agricultural burns are a common practice to remove vegetation and control weeds. This prepares the ground for spring seeding. Irrigation ditches are also burned to increase efficiency of water delivery and improved nutrient cycling. 

Boulder County is maintaining a website that contains current, upcoming, and completed burns. The county lists several benefits to controlled agricultural burn. Removing vegetation reduces the likelihood of fires and the spread of pests and disease. These fires also recycle nutrients back into the soil, which encourages growth of trees and wildflowers. 

Children, elderly adults, pregnant women, and people with lung disease or heart disease are more susceptible to adverse health effects from exposure to wood smoke. The most common side effects include eye, throat, and nose irritation, respiratory problems, and worsening asthma symptoms. 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) advises the public to limit activity outdoors if there is heavy smoke. The department advises people to keep their house windows and doors closed

County officials will monitor the relative humidity, fuel moisture, and wind before beginning a burn project. Colorado is a right-to-farm state, which also means citizen farmers have the right to start their own burn projects without getting a permit. 

The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Forestry and Fire Group can be contacted at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.