Debating the use of controlled burns in Colorado

A controlled burn Wednesday near Walsenburg has reignited the debate about whether the practice is safe, effective or even necessary after a tumultuous wildfire season in Colorado.

The burn on private property was started by the owner, who acquired a permit from Huerfano County and was burning rubbish piles.

Controlled burns, often called prescribed burns, are similarly used by rural landowners and local agencies for wildfire mitigation — removing branches, shrubs and other excess vegetation that could fuel fires.

Such intentional fires are rare in southern Colorado because of adverse weather conditions — being too dry or windy — and because of concern that controlled burns could get out of control and spread.

Several years ago, however, statewide fire experts recommended that controlled burns be used more often because of research proving their effectiveness and because the risk of such fires spreading out of control was exaggerated.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department doesn’t conduct controlled burns.

“Because we’re not land managers,” said Fire Marshal Brett Lacey. “But we talk about controlled burns often — especially the smoke they can produce. The health concerns are very significant, and we struggle as a nation to find solutions where we can use fire to our benefit when we can control it.”

Chief Gerald Jerant, of the Huerfano County Fire Department, said the county issues permits for burning on private property but doesn’t burn for wildfire mitigation.

“I don’t think that any of the landowners who do burns here are specifically trained in that, but it’s a commonsense thing and most of them know that,” he said. “They have the proper tools on scene, they’ve been doing it for years and they know what they’re supposed to be doing.”

Jerant said the La Veta Fire Department, near the site of this summer’s large Spring Fire, occasionally burns for wildfire mitigation when it acquires grant money to do so.

The U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Springs Utilities plan to conduct controlled burns this fall if conditions are favorable.