In Evergreen and other parts of Colorado, piles of debris sit like haystacks in a field, waiting to be burned. These burn piles are part of efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires in forested areas.
We estimate there are about 3,800 burn piles in Evergreen’s fire district alone, and tens of thousands more across the state, said Einar Jensen, the risk reduction coordinator at Evergreen Fire Rescue.
The burning season hasn’t started yet. It usually begins in November and runs through March when there’s enough snow on the ground—at least four inches. But burning these piles isn’t as simple as lighting a match. Homeowners can get their own burn permits, but for larger operations, a certified burn boss is required. This involves a lot of paperwork and approvals from various government agencies, including the Department of Public Health and Environment.
“We don’t have a burn boss right now, Jensen said. It’s a tough job with a lot of responsibility.
In Jefferson County, a few people are training to become certified burn bosses, but it takes time. One of Evergreen’s wildland captains is on track to become one of the first five certified Type III burn bosses in the county.
When the time comes to burn, the boss will decide which piles to ignite, ensuring the flames don’t spark a larger wildfire. This careful planning is necessary because of past disasters. For example, in 2012, a controlled burn near Conifer spread out of control, causing the Lower North Fork Fire, which killed three people and destroyed 27 homes.
Burn bosses consider weather conditions and the risk of fire spreading, as well as how smoke will disperse. They’ll choose a day when the smoke will rise quickly and not settle into nearby neighborhoods, Jensen explained.
These burn piles may be waiting for now, but they represent progress. There’s a lot of coordination between landowners, including Denver Mountain Parks, state and federal lands, and private homeowners who have taken steps to reduce fire risk on their properties.
We live in a wildfire-prone ecosystem, Jensen said. Until we recognize and accept that, we’ll continue to face big tragedies.
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