The City of Boulder is taking action to address smoldering underground coal that has been active beneath the Marshall Mesa trailhead for over a century. Working with the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, the city aims to excavate the smoldering coal and prevent future fires. While not the cause of the 2021 Marshall Fire, the coal fire could have contributed to its spread. The project is expected to take at least 4 months, with precautions in place to ensure no fires spread during windy conditions. The trailhead will be closed during the project, but surrounding trails will remain open. The City of Boulder is committed to preventing future fires and protecting nearby homes by installing a 20,000-gallon cistern. Their efforts will improve fire resistance in the area and address a long-standing issue that has the potential to cause harm. With the safety of the community in mind, the city is taking proactive measures to extinguish the coal fires once and for all.
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Colorado crews prepared to put out underground coal smoldering at Marshall Mesa
