Roosevelt National Forest Plan Prescribed Burns in Canyon Lakes Ranger District

Magic Feather Prescribed Fire will help help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. (Photo by Evan Barrientos)

Release Date: February 6, 2026
Contact Information: ARPFireInfo@usda.gov
Secondary Contact: ARP Fire Information    (970) 295-6600   

Fort Collins, Colo. (February 6, 2026)—Roosevelt National Forest’s Canyon Lakes Ranger District is planning prescribed fire operations as soon as Feb. 8, as conditions allow. This work could continue throughout the winter when conditions are favorable. Prescribed fire is used to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Continuation of the Magic Feather Prescribed Burn, as well as the start of a new project, Salt Cabin, are planned for this February. The Magic Feather Prescribed Burn is in Larimer County, east and southeast of Red Feather Lakes. Fire managers will be monitoring conditions to treat an additional 200 acres located south of County Road 74E (Red Feather Lakes Road). Firefighters plan to burn 500 acres this weekend on the Salt Cabin prescribed burn, which is located 2 miles southeast of Rustic, Colorado, and south of the Cache la Poudre River. This project area is strategically located between a larger- scale vegetation management project, the Black Diamond Forest Health Resiliency Project, and the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire burn scar. Once completed, the Salt Cabin prescribed burn will treat 4,572 acres of National Forest System lands.

Weather conditions are evaluated in the days and hours prior to ignitions. If conditions are not favorable, scheduled prescribed fire activities will be canceled.

Recreation areas within the project may close to the public for several days for safety. Watch for informational signage along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns. County emergency management officials will be notified when burning begins.

Residents, as well as people visiting areas such as the Poudre River corridor and Dowdy and West Lake recreation areas, may experience smoke during prescribed burns. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information, visit “Wood Smoke and Your Health” . When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

For up-to-date information on prescribed fire activity, follow the ARP on Facebook and X, visit their website, or check the Inciweb pages for the Magic Feather prescribed burn and the Salt Cabin prescribed burn .