Prescribed Burn Clears 100 Acres in Steamboat Springs

Routt National Forest completes hazardous fuel reduction project near Harrison Creek

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:01pm

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted earth tones, with heavy brushstrokes of smoke and haze obscuring the details of the forest, conveying the scale and power of a prescribed burn in the Routt National Forest.A controlled burn in the Routt National Forest helps reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the Steamboat Springs region.Steamboat Springs Today

The U.S. Forest Service has completed a 100-acre prescribed burn in the Routt National Forest near Steamboat Springs, Colorado as part of the Steamboat Front Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project. The burn was conducted on March 23 to clear overgrown vegetation and reduce the risk of wildfires in the area.

Why it matters

Prescribed burns are a common forest management technique used to reduce the buildup of flammable materials and mitigate the threat of catastrophic wildfires. This project helps protect the Steamboat Springs community and surrounding areas by proactively managing the local forest ecosystem.

The details

The prescribed burn was carried out by U.S. Forest Service staff in an area south of Steamboat Springs near the Harrison Creek. The goal was to clear more than 100 acres of overgrown vegetation as part of the broader Steamboat Front Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project.

  • The prescribed burn was completed on March 23, 2026.

The players

Routt National Forest

A national forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service, located in northwestern Colorado.

Steamboat Front Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project

An ongoing forest management initiative to reduce the risk of wildfires in the Steamboat Springs area.

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The takeaway

This prescribed burn is an important step in the Steamboat Front Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project, helping to create a more fire-resilient forest ecosystem and protect the local community from the threat of catastrophic wildfires.