Slash Pile Burning

During winter months, fire managers may conduct slash -- or woody debris -- pile burning operations where hazardous fuels mitigation treatments were completed in the spring, summer and fall.

Slash, created during forest thinning treatments, often is collected in piles and safely burned when weather conditions permit. In the Rocky Mountain area, that generally means there is some snow on the ground.

Before a burn occurs, certain criteria -- including smoke dispersal conditions, snow or other precipitation in the burn area, adequate staffing, and fuel moisture -- must be met.

For more information, download the U.S. Forest Service brochure, Pile Burning in the Wildland Urban Interface (pdf 1.3 MB).