Forest Service plans prescribed burns in Jefferson County

The U.S. Forest Service will begin prescribed burns on federal lands in Jefferson County in the coming days in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfires, the agency said Friday.

The South Platte Ranger District plans to burn up to 536 acres of national forest land near Green Mountain and Little Scraggy Peak in southern Jefferson County. Burns at Green Mountain are expected to begin as soon as next week, depending on weather and vegetation conditions, the agency said in a news release.

“Prescribed fire reduces woody debris, small trees and shrubs on the forest floor,” the agency wrote. “Removing these hazardous fuels reduces the risk of extreme wildfires.”

According to the release, the work will unfold over the coming weeks.