Fire Mitigation Progress at Little Salt Wash Park in Fruita, Colorado

Black Mule Forestry is proud to be making significant progress on an important fire mitigation project at Little Salt Wash Park in the heart of Fruita, Colorado.

Justin Wareham with Black Mule Forestry

Little Salt Wash Park is one of Fruita's most popular community spaces, featuring baseball fields, walking paths, picnic areas, and a well-loved disc golf course that winds through mature trees and natural vegetation. Over the years, dense brush, overgrown vegetation, dead material, and thick tree canopies have created a substantial wildfire hazard throughout the park and adjacent areas. The project area sits directly next to active recreational facilities and nearby neighborhoods, making proactive fire mitigation critical for community safety.

Our crews have been working hard to reduce hazardous fuels around the park, including areas surrounding the baseball fields, the disc golf course, and the beautiful pedestrian bridge that connects visitors throughout the park. By removing excessive brush, ladder fuels, and overcrowded vegetation, we are helping create healthier, more resilient open spaces while improving access and visibility for park users.

Reid Perkins eliminating Russian Olives by the creek

This project has truly been a team effort. Black Mule Forestry owner Justin Wareham has been leading operations on the ground, and our crew members Preston and Reid have been doing outstanding work. Both have spent countless hours running chainsaws, felling trees, processing material, and helping transform heavily overgrown sections of the park into safer, more manageable landscapes. Their dedication and work ethic have been instrumental in the progress we've made so far!

We have also been fortunate to work alongside the excellent team at ECOburn, LLC out of Mack, Colorado. Their air curtain burner has been a valuable asset on the project, allowing us to efficiently dispose of stumps, logs, and brush that are not being mulched. This process helps reduce slash piles while keeping the project moving forward safely and efficiently. We greatly appreciate their partnership and professionalism throughout the project.

Robert Andrews from ECOburn, LLC & Justin Wareham from Black Mule Forestry, LLC posing with the air curtain burner and the ASV with the Fecon mulching head. This equipment is critical to this project in Fruita.

We are also working closely with the City of Fruita, the Lower Valley Fire District, and the Two Rivers Fire Coalition to ensure our work is meeting, or hopefully exceeding, their expectations. Everyone we have worked with from these entities have been helpful and insightful, creating a really fun and exciting work atmosphere!

One of the most rewarding aspects of this work has been seeing the transformation taking place around the disc golf course and walking areas. What was once hidden behind thick brush and overgrowth is becoming more open, accessible, and enjoyable for the community. Visitors can already begin to see improved sightlines, healthier tree spacing, and reduced wildfire risk throughout key areas of the park.

We can't wait to play a round of disc when this is all done

While there is still plenty of work ahead, the progress made so far is exciting. Fire mitigation projects like this are not only about reducing wildfire risk—they are about protecting community assets, preserving recreational opportunities, improving ecosystem health, and ensuring these spaces can be enjoyed for years to come.

Black Mule Forestry is honored to be part of this effort and looks forward to continuing work at Little Salt Wash Park as the project moves toward completion. We look forward to sharing more updates as we continue making progress in helping protect Fruita's parks, neighborhoods, and public spaces!

We just love working in Fruita!

-The Black Mule Forestry Team