x
Breaking News
More () »

Seeing smoke? 2nd day of prescribed burning at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

Smoke will be visible for several miles from the perimeter of the wildlife refuge and people in the area may smell smoke.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Don't be alarmed if you see smoke rising in Commerce City over the next few weeks.

> Above video: How Colorado snowpack is measured

Prescribed fire burning activities are planned at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge throughout March. About 300 acres was burned Tuesday and an additional 200 acres will be burned Wednesday, according to the Refuge. The burning is taking place in the area of 64th and Peoria.

Credit: 9NEWS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it plans to burn 1,138 acres over four weeks starting March 6 and continuing through the end of the month.

The burns will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Smoke will be visible for several miles from the perimeter of the refuge and people in the area may smell smoke.

Credit: 9NEWS

The purpose of the burns is to reinvigorate the growth of native prairie vegetation, reduce accumulated litter, manage efforts for weed control and improve habitat to sustain wildlife, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prescribed burns are a tool land managers use to reduce the risk of wildfire in the wildland urban interface.

Interagency fire crews from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other federal agencies and local fire departments will be participating in the prescribed burns.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, see colorado.gov.

Credit: 9NEWS

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado wildfires

MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS

Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER

Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n 

HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE

ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.

For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.

Before You Leave, Check This Out