Planned Pile Burn Near Linwood Cemetery Dec 9-10 Advances Wildfire Mitigation Efforts in Glenwood Springs

The Glenwood Springs Fire Department, working in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department and additional local agencies, will conduct a planned pile burn east of Linwood (Doc Holliday) Cemetery in mid-December 2025. The operation follows months of fuels mitigation work designed to reduce wildfire risk and improve ecological health in the area.

The burn is currently scheduled for December 9–10, with dates subject to change based on weather and safety conditions. Fire officials emphasize that this is a controlled and intentional burn, not an emergency response.

A Strategic Step in Reducing Wildfire Risk

The pile burn is part of the larger Linwood Fuels Mitigation Project, which has already removed dense, dead, and dying vegetation that posed fire hazards. This work has improved wildlife habitat, reduced potential fuels, and strengthened protection for nearby neighborhoods and public infrastructure.

Remaining debris has been gathered into secure piles that will be burned only when conditions meet strict criteria established by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). Firefighters will be present on-site throughout the entire operation to ensure the burn remains controlled.

“While our community is no stranger to wildfire, the use of prescribed fire is a new and important tool for us,” said Ryan Wyckoff, Battalion Chief and Chief of Special Operations. “This is a safe, planned, and strategic effort to manage fuels and protect our community from future wildfires.”

What Residents Need to Know

Community members may see smoke during the planned burn, but officials stress that the activity is expected and intentional. Prescribed fire is a recognized land-management practice used to reduce hazardous fuels and help restore ecological balance in fire-adapted landscapes.

This effort also launches a broader community education initiative focused on how tools like prescribed fire can help strengthen wildfire resilience over time.