LONGMONT - Fire crews from multiple local agencies are conducting a prescribed burn at Heil Valley Ranch on Saturday.
The burn will cover about 150 acres and is located on Boulder County Parks and Open Space property.
The ecosystem of Heil Valley Ranch requires periodic fire treatment for long term sustainability and health.
After years of fire exclusion, trees can become overcrowded, fire-dependent species can disappear, and flammable fuels can build up and become hazardous.
In response to this issue, Boulder County Parks and Open Space has undertaken an ongoing restoration project at Heil Valley Ranch.
About 1,000 acres have been thinned and harvested since 2010, and the area is now in the second phase of treatment, which is the reintroduction of fire.
(KUSA-TV © 2014 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
