Magic Feather Prescribed Burn could resume next week

Firefighters on the Roosevelt National Forest have been closely monitoring local conditions at the Magic Feather Prescribed Burn, located south and southeast of Red Feather Lakes. Until recently, conditions at this site have been too wet to carry fire and achieve the desired fuel reduction effects.

Burning of the Magic Feather Prescribed Burn has been taking place over recent years as conditions have allowed. In May 2023, 200 acres were successfully burned, all north of County Road 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road).

Appropriate, localized conditions must be met before ignition of prescribed burns can take place. Fire managers have been carefully monitoring these conditions, including favorable weather forecast (temperature, wind, precipitation, relative humidity), fuel moisture, smoke dispersal and staffing. Weather is monitored throughout the burn and burning is halted if conditions fall outside of the required conditions.

People in the area should expect to see smoke when operations are taking place, including around Dowdy Lake and West Lake campgrounds and day-use areas. The trail system in the Mount Margaret, Molly Lake, Elkhorn and Lady Moon area is open until burning resumes but will be closed during burning operations.

This prescribed burn is part of the overall strategy on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests to address the Wildfire Crisis. Prescribed fire is one of the most efficient ways of reducing wildfire risk. Regularly conducting prescribed fires, which mimic nature, reduces the buildup of flammable vegetation and overgrowth.

To receive updates, follow the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests on facebook and twitter and join their email list through Constant Contact and select list “Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 14 to Wyoming Border (Red Feather Lakes).” Additional information may be found on inciweb.

Photo: Magic Feather prescribed burn, 2021 (Evan Barrientos)