BOULDER, Colo. -- The wildfire season isn't officially here yet, but Boulder Wildland Fire crews began fire mitigation work Monday south of Eldorado Springs Canyon.

During fire season, the crew will fight wildfires and help staff Boulder's summer helicopter program.

As part of their other responsibilities, the crew works on wildfire mitigation and forestry management. The four-member crew planned to burn slash piles Monday and then clear and burn ditches near 75th Street and Valmont Road Tuesday.

The fire crew, which will grow to eight by the end of May, will work on over 600 acres of prescribe fire treatment in 2004.

Wildfire mitigation is planned on city of Boulder's watershed, around water treatment facilities, and in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks lands.

“We are committed to interagency cooperation and boundary-less forest management projects in conjunction with our cooperators,” said Marc Mullenix, the Boulder Wildland Fire division chief . “We must protect the safety of our citizens while providing a healthy and safe ecosystem.”

Benefits of prescribed fire include removing dead vegetation, returning nutrients to the soil, reducing noxious weeds and negative effects of unwanted wildfires while providing valuable research for resource managers, and hands-on training and coordination for area firefighters and resource managers.

March typically marks the beginning of the prescribed burn season because the timing is better for the natural resources and local air quality is improved over winter months, according to Mullenix. Fire managers also consider potential negative smoke impacts for public safety, contingency plans and preparations to reduce the threat of an escaped fire and wildlife and resource concerns.

For information on prescribed burns in Boulder, visit the Boulder Fire Department Web site or call the city wildland fire information line at (303) 441-4060 ext 540.