A thinning shroud of smoke provided a colorful sunset Monday evening and a colorful sunrise Tuesday morning.
The smoke at times blanketed the county Monday and was from a 1,575-acre prescribed burn on national forest land just west of Eagle Rock. The Eastern Divide Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is treating portions of the north side of Patterson Creek Road (Forest Road 184) along Patterson Mountain with prescribed fire.
Forest Service officials said the prescribed fire will improve wildlife habitat, encourage oak regeneration, restore table mountain pine and reduce forest fuel loading.
Firefighters ignited the burn by mid-morning Monday using a helicopter.
