Sunnyside Prescribed Fire north of Aspen planned on Monday

Fire managers expect conditions will be favorable on Monday to ignite the 900-acre Sunnyside Prescribed Fire on National Forest System lands one mile north of Aspen, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service. 

The carefully planned fire is designed to reduce dense vegetation and other fuels, which will lower wildfire risk to the local community and improve wildlife habitat by stimulating new vegetation growth. The prescribed fire is a coordinated effort funded in part by Pitkin County with in-kind support from Aspen Fire, the Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, and the city of Aspen, with additional support from ZEGNA.

“Fire is as much a part of these landscapes on the White River National Forest as the plants and animals,” said Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Kevin Warner in the press release. “Prescribed fires are carefully planned fires we use in appropriate conditions to bring fire’s natural benefits to an area.”  

Firefighters are closely monitoring site-specific conditions and will only ignite the fire if conditions are good for a safe, effective burn and smoke dispersal that minimizes impacts to surrounding communities. 

Flames and smoke on Sunnyside will be visible throughout Aspen as well as Highway 82, Aspen Mountain. and Aspen Highlands, according to the press release. Smoke should dissipate during the day but may remain on the valley floors as temperatures drop. 

The latest information about the burn will be available on-line at rfvwildfire.org as well as Facebook facebook.com/WhiteRiverNF and facebook.com/AspenFireDepartment.  Personnel will be stationed at locations in downtown Aspen and Aspen Mountain to provide information and answer questions. 

Fire managers have developed a detailed prescribed fire plan and obtained smoke permits from the State of Colorado. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. Go to fire.airnow.gov  to find more detailed information about air quality.