Forestry Department to conduct winter pile burning as conditions allow through March 2025

After successfully clearing dead timber from the north side of Mountain Village this fall, the Town of Mountain Village Forestry Department will conduct winter slash pile burning as conditions allow this winter. Burning could begin as early as Thursday, December 5.

The Town has secured a pile burn permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and San Miguel County to periodically burn piles of slash — woody debris and other natural materials left behind after forest management activities. Slash piles are burned under specific conditions to mitigate the risk of larger wildfire.

The burn permit is currently through December 31, 2024, but is expected to be extended through March 2025. Burning is permitted 10 a.m. to sundown, and burns are expected to occur Monday-Thursdays as conditions allow.

The slash piles are near the Public Works Shop below Jurassic Trail. Additional piles may be burned along the ridge extending toward See Forever Village later this winter. Burns will only occur when enough snow is on the ground in coordination with the Telluride Fire Protection District.

Smoke along the ridge on the north side of Mountain Village may be visible when piles are burned, and steam, which can be mistaken as smoke, is also likely to occur due to the water content in the piles. The public is asked not to call 911 to report smoke in these areas when pile burns are occurring.

When burning is confirmed to occur, the Town and other local agencies will post updates to social media and update signs at the entrance to Mountain Village and along the Valley Floor on Highway 145.

Notices will also be sent via text message to those signed up for Public Safety notices through TMV’s ReadyOp system.

To sign up for those notices, please visit: bit.ly/MVNotifications.