The following is a release from Reghan Cloudman of the US Forest Service:

Firefighters on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest have begun prescribed fire operations on Dec. 2, 2021, on the Magic Feather Prescribed Burn to improve forest health.

Burning is planned on the interior of already established blacklines around the unit, providing a control feature, and staffing will be over the minimum levels identified in the burn plan. Timing of this is meant to take advantage of conditions that allows the burn to more closely mimic natural fire behavior in these types of fuels, allowing fire to carry throughout the burn unit to meet the burn objectives.

This burn is located east and southeast of Red Feather Lakes. Burning operations could include one unit totaling approximately 300 acres, located north of County Road 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road). Work has already taken place in the area to prepare for ignitions, including tree cutting around the perimeter and within the interior of the project.

Appropriate, localized conditions must be met before ignition of prescribed burns can take place. Fire managers have been carefully monitoring these conditions, including favorable weather forecast (temperature, wind, precipitation, relative humidity), fuel moisture, smoke dispersal and staffing. Weather is monitored throughout the burn and burning will be halted if conditions fall outside of the required conditions.

Residents and visitors in the area should expect to see smoke when operations are taking place. The Mount Margaret Trail system will be closed during operations. Please follow all signage. Smoke may also impact those using the Dowdy Lake Campgrounds and Day-Use Area.

To get added to the email notification list for when burning begins in this area, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line “Magic Feather.” Additional information may be found on inciweb. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. More information about smoke impacts is available at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.