Firefighters Start Prescribed Burn On Pawnee Grassland

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is conducting a prescribed burn on less than one square mile of the Pawnee National Grassland in Weld County.

Firefighters completed a successful test burn Thursday morning and then went ahead with plans to burn about 550 acres near New Raymer, about 50 miles east of Greeley.

Sixteen to 24 firefighters are expected to monitor the fire.

Forest Service officials say burning grasslands improves wildlife habitat and reduces the risk of wildfires.

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• Weld County