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| Press Release Colorado Springs, Colo., May 17, 2024— The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Pikes Peak Ranger District is preparing to conduct a prescribed fire at Monument Fire Center, 1.5 miles west of Monument, Colo., in June 2024. Ignitions are weather dependent and are expected to take place over three days at Memorial Grove, Monument Rock and the Mt. Herman trailhead. Once the prescribed fire begins, smoke may be present for several days or weeks in the general project area. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health; please go to https://cdphe.colorado.gov/wood-smoke-and-your-health for additional information. The purpose of the project is to utilize prescribed fire to reduce surface fuel loads and to restore ecosystem health on up to 1,000 acres. Objectives include reducing the amount of pine needles, leaves, small branches, and oak brush, as well as reducing woody debris left over from earlier stages of the project. Historically, low-elevation Ponderosa Pine ecosystems such as those at Monument, are estimated to have burned every 10 years. Prescribed fire will help mimic the natural fire regime and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The Monument Fire Center project is part of an ongoing, collaborative restoration project developed with partners including the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and neighbors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service has been working with the Monument Fire Department, the mayors of Monument and Palmer Lake, and the El Paso County Health Department to share information about this project. The Forest Service has also been communicating with adjacent homeowner associations including Red Rock Ranch, Mt. Herman Road, Shilo Pines and Forest View. Many organizations have helped prepare for this project, including Team Rubicon, Friends of Monument, El Paso County Wildland Support Module, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Tava Module, Pike Interagency Hotshot Crew, The Nature Conservancy, Module 9, and Tatanka Hotshots. Updates on the project will be posted on Facebook and X (formerly twitter) @PSICC_NF. Media Contact: Shawna Graves 719-466-9122 shawna.graves@usda.gov https://www.fs.usda.gov/psicc | ||