Greeley Plans Prescribed Burn at Signature Bluffs Natural Area in Mid-October
The City of Greeley will conduct a prescribed burn at Signature Bluffs Natural Area between October 13 and 17, with exact dates dependent on weather conditions and staff availability.
Greeley's Natural Areas & Trails Division and Fire Department are partnering with the Fort Collins-based Ember Alliance to burn two areas within the natural area along the Cache la Poudre River. One burn site is located in the western section of Signature Bluffs, while the second is positioned closer to the eastern trailhead. Weather conditions and vegetation moisture levels will determine which areas receive treatment during the burn window.
The prescribed burn is designed to restore natural ecological processes that have been disrupted by decades of fire suppression. Fire reduces accumulated dead plant material, encourages nutrient cycling, and favors the regeneration of fire-adapted species while suppressing invasive plants, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The burns also reduce wildfire risk by eliminating excess fuel loads such as dry grasses, shrubs and fallen branches.
Signature Bluffs Natural Area features historic significance tied to Greeley's founding, with the Greeley Canal #3 head gate located on-site. The ditch was created in 1870 and played a critical role in irrigating the original farms of the Union Colony, Greeley's founding settlement. The area is identifiable by its historic red barn and includes a pond for fishing along the scenic Poudre River Trail.
During burn operations, the Signature Bluffs trailhead parking lot will be closed to public access. The Poudre River Trail will also be closed from 71st Avenue to 83rd Avenue while crews conduct the prescribed fire activities.
Public safety remains the top priority for the burn operation, according to city officials. Greeley firefighters and Ember Alliance personnel will conduct the burn under oversight from multiple local and state fire agencies. All prescribed burn projects in Colorado must include a technical review for compliance with state policy guidelines and require smoke management permits from the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division.
Smoke from prescribed fires contains fine particulate matter and other chemicals that can affect respiratory and cardiovascular health. Residents most at risk include children, elderly individuals, and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends that vulnerable populations stay indoors with windows and doors closed during burn operations and limit outdoor activities.
The timing comes as Northern Colorado remains under heightened fire awareness. Larimer County extended fire restrictions through September 30 for unincorporated areas above 6,000 feet, citing continued wildfire danger despite recent wet weather.
The Ember Alliance specializes in collaborative, community-based prescribed fire projects across Colorado and employs qualified fire managers trained to National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group standards. The organization partners with local governments, state agencies and landowners for ecological restoration and wildfire risk reduction projects throughout the region.
Exact burn dates will be announced on Greeley Fire Department and City of Greeley social media channels once weather conditions and resource availability are confirmed. Additional information about Greeley's prescribed burn program is available at greeleyCO.gov/trails.