Major fire mitigation in progress at Pike National Forest
Mitigation is a valuable tool in fire prevention that will protect properties and lives, but it will also serve to keep the forests healthier and less susceptible to faster spreading fires. With less available fuel, the fires can be easier to control and kept from spreading. Reducing the number of trees will also help to minimize pine beetle and spruce budworm outbreaks.
In February 2023, Josh Voorhis, District Ranger, USFS informed residents of Lake George District of upcoming mitigation in parts of Pike National Forest. The mitigation process commenced east of Wilkerson Pass and the Badger Flats area in the fall and has now moved to areas along county roads 61 (Blue Mountain Road) 98 and 403. This mitigation project came about through a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress that allocated money to the USFS to take the necessary steps to mitigate the forests surrounding homes and communities in the district to help protect them from wildfire.
Having a healthier forest will also mean more foraging opportunities for deer, elk, pronghorn and moose. If any raptor nests are located in or around trees marked for removal, they will alter the plan. Wildlife protection is another reason rather than just weather that most of the mitigation activity will occur in the fall and winter. They do not want to harm or disturb the wildlife while they are having and nurturing their young.
USFS is outsourcing most of the work to commercial loggers and many of the trees will be cut into 2X4s and firewood. It is dependent on the market and some of the wood could be shipped to the Gypsum Biomass Plant where they use wood burning to generate electricity. The forest service itself will be selling cords of firewood locally to the public.
Mitigation is an important facet of maintaining healthy forests. Cutting down the trees will not only open up the forest to new growth, but will reduce the amount of ladder fuel and prevent the spread of pine beetles and the spruce budworm.
Slash piles throughout the areas will be burned and the ashes will be spread as fertilizer to encourage new and healthier growth of pine trees, aspen trees, and wildflowers. Burning the slash piles is necessary to remove any remaining fuel to prevent them from catching fire during a wildfire incident.
Residents will be notified when the burns are commencing.
“We prefer to do these burns when we have had a significant amount of snow that will help with fire suppression,” said Voorhis.
People are asked to use caution in these areas and be watchful of heavy equipment on the roads. Any questions can be directed to the district office of the USFS in Fairplay, 716-836-2031.
Cut trees are picked up and stripped of foliage before being piled for logging trucks.
A logging operation on County Road 98. You can see cleared area, log piles, and slash piles.