Larimer County Wildland Fire Crew Assists Rocky Mountain National Park With 300-Acre Prescribed Burn

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office Phantom Canyon wildland fire crew joined Rocky Mountain National Park and several regional partners this week to complete a nearly 300-acre prescribed burn in the park's Front Country area.

The controlled burn targeted hazardous vegetation buildup near developed areas and transportation corridors, using a mosaic-pattern technique that intentionally leaves some vegetation unburned to maintain wildlife habitat while reducing wildfire risk.

"Prescribed fire works to rejuvenate soils, consume dead vegetation, and provide for richer habitat come spring," Rocky Mountain National Park stated in describing the project's ecological benefits.

The operation provided training opportunities for the county crew while strengthening wildfire defenses for surrounding communities including Estes Park.

Multi-Agency Coordination Expands Regional Fire Capacity

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office established the Phantom Canyon crew to specialize in wildland fire prevention, suppression and management across the county. Crew members must meet National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group qualification standards covering fire behavior, safety protocols, equipment use and incident command structure, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

Rocky Mountain National Park resumed prescribed burn operations on November 19 with approximately 50 firefighters conducting controlled burns west of Beaver Meadows Visitor Center as part of the 294-acre Front Country Prescribed Fire program.

The Sheriff's Office collaborates with Rocky Mountain National Park and other agencies through mutual aid agreements and incident management protocols that include joint training, resource sharing and acceptance of NWCG qualification standards during operations. Partners typically include Poudre Fire Authority, Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and federal land management agencies.

Colorado established statewide prescribed fire standards through Senate Bill 13-083 in 2013, creating certification requirements and planning procedures administered by the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The Colorado Prescribed Burning Act mandates minimum safety measures, training standards and permitting requirements for agencies conducting prescribed burns.

Prescribed Burns Reduce Catastrophic Wildfire Risk

Prescribed fires reduce fuel loads that accumulate in Colorado's Front Range ecosystems, significantly lowering the risk and intensity of catastrophic wildfires near residential areas in Larimer and Weld counties. Treatment areas from previous prescribed fires helped contain both the 2012 Fern Lake Fire and the 2020 East Troublesome Fire, which burned approximately 30,000 acres within Rocky Mountain National Park.

The mosaic-pattern burning technique creates alternating burned and unburned areas that mimic natural wildfire behavior. This approach increases landscape diversity, reduces large-scale tree mortality and supports wildlife by maintaining varied habitat structures across the treatment area.

Fire also enhances nutrient cycling, reduces invasive species and promotes growth of native plants adapted to periodic burning. The practice restores natural fire cycles that prevent forest overgrowth and pest outbreaks while stimulating germination of fire-adapted plant species.

Implementation costs for prescribed fire programs represent a fraction of wildfire suppression expenses, which often reach millions of dollars for large incidents. Cost-benefit analyses consistently show prescribed fire prevention is less expensive and environmentally damaging than suppression and post-wildfire recovery efforts, according to the Poudre Fire Authority Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Regulatory Framework Requires Air Quality Compliance

Prescribed burns on federal lands require compliance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment air quality standards and coordination with Larimer County emergency services. The National Park Service must obtain air quality permits from CDPHE, which reviews projected smoke output to ensure compliance with Environmental Protection Agency standards for particulate matter.

Operations are postponed if weather forecasts suggest air quality thresholds could be exceeded or sensitive populations may be affected. EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards set maximum allowable concentrations for fine particulate matter at 35 micrograms per cubic meter for 24-hour periods.

County agencies implementing prescribed fires operate under both state Division of Fire Prevention and Control guidelines and local ordinances. Burn permits restrict operations during adverse weather conditions including red flag warnings and high winds, require notification of fire dispatch before and after burning, and mandate on-site extinguishing equipment with competent personal supervision.

Contact the Larimer County Sheriff's Office at 970-498-5100.