Monument Fire Center prescribed burn over, fire closures remain in effect

(MONUMENT, Colo.) — The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will not continue ignitions on the Monument Fire Center prescribed burn as conditions are not favorable for operations to continue. The USFS will reevaluate one unit of the prescribed burn that crews were not able to begin this year, for 2025.

According to the USFS, due to windy conditions, coupled with low relative humidity and fuel moisture in the oak brush beginning to decrease, crews decided to stop further ignitions.

WATCH: Monument Fire Center prescribed burn, June 13, 2024

The USFS, which released a timelapse from the prescribed burn, officially began operations on Wednesday, June 12 but just a day later, on Thursday evening, June 13 , all ignitions were stopped due to the unfavorable conditions.

On Saturday, June 15 the USFS posted a reminder to the community on X (formally known as Twitter) to stay out of the Monument Fire Center grounds as the area remains under a fire closure and “people are blatantly ignoring the closure.”

According to the USFS, the area is a hazard to people and their dogs not only because there are pockets of heat that can cause severe burns, but also fire-weakened trees that could potentially fall. The closures remain in place through Friday, June 21, and will reopen to the public the next day on Saturday, June 22.

PHOTOS: 2024 Monument Fire Center prescribed burn

Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the burn area, along with mopping up hot spots this week. The public should also be advised that smoke will still be visible near the prescribed burn area as pockets of heat continue to burn, which is expected.

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