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Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests is planning to ignite slash piles as early as the week of November 17th, pending all required approvals and when there is sufficient snow or rain present to prevent fire spread. Pile burning will continue as long as conditions allow, possibly through spring. Prescribed fire is necessary to improve and restore vegetative conditions. This effort will reduce hazardous ground fuels, lessen the risk of unplanned large-scale wildfire, help restore ecosystems and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed fire also reduces the ladder fuels that can carry fire into the canopy, killing mature trees. Slash piles are generated from forest thinning and timber sales. Thinning projects improve forest health and wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfire near private residences and other infrastructure. Thinning slash is piled and burned to remove the debris that would fuel wildfire. Pile burns planned for the area include: Prescribed fires planned for the GMUG include: Overland Machine Piles—Paonia Ranger District (RD) : Located in Delta County, 15 miles north of Paonia, Colo., in the Beaver Creek area along U.S. Forest System Road (USFSR) 701. (Scheduled to start 11/20) Hubbard Machine Piles—Paonia RD : Located in Delta County, 11 miles north of Paonia, Colo., in the West Hubbard Creek area along USFSR 701. (Scheduled to start 11/20) Rim Machine Piles—Grand Valley RD : Located in Mesa County, 19 miles east of Grand Junction, Colo., in the North Fork of Kannah Creek area along USFSR 105. (Scheduled to start 11/20) Main Mesa Leftovers Machine Piles—Grand Valley RD : Located in Mesa County, 9 miles north of Cedaredge, Colo., near Trickle Park Reservoir. Cottonwood South Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 30 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colo., in the Taylor Park Reservoir area along County Road (CR) 209. EZ Hazard Tree Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 16 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colo., along CR 742 and USFSR 744. Sargent’s Mesa Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 35 miles southeast of Gunnison, Colo., near Sargent’s Mesa along USFS 578. Big Willow Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 32 miles southwest of Gunnison, Colo., along USFSR 867. Ridgestock Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 32 miles southwest of Gunnison, Colo., along USFSR 867. Slaughterhouse Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 25 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colo., near the town of Tincup along USFSR 765. Tin Cup Small Sale Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 25 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colo., near the town of Tincup along USFSR 765. Taylor Firewood Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 25 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colo., near Taylor Park along USFSR 587. Monarch Handpiles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 33 miles east of Gunnison, Colo., near Monarch Pass along Highway 50. Crossbar Piles—Gunnison RD : Located in Gunnison County, 27 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colo., along CR 888. Groundhog Piles—Norwood RD : Located in San Miguel County, 13 miles southwest of Placerville, Colo., near Groundhog Mountain along the 611 Road. Baldy Mountain Piles—Ouray RD : Located in Ouray County, one mile south of Ridgway, Colo., near Baldy Mountain along Highway 550.