The Dolores Ranger District started burning slash piles on Monday at McPhee Park 12 miles north of Dolores on the San Juan National Forest.

The operation will take place near the intersection of Forest Service Road No. 526 (Dolores/Norwood Road) and FS Road No. 531 about a half-mile south of the Montezuma/Dolores county line.

Firefighters will be igniting about 600 hand piles created by an earlier hazard fuel reduction/timber stand improvement project.

The operation will continue until all piles are safely burned, with crews on site. For more information, contact the Dolores Ranger District at 970 882-7296.