Forest Service News Release

Due to recent snowfall, Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire managers are preparing for winter prescribed fire activities. This past fall, the SFNF conducted broadcast burns throughout the forest. Now fire managers will begin planning for potential pile burns implemented between December and April in the Cuba, Coyote, Jemez, and Espanola ranger districts. Broadcast burns and pile burns are intended to reduce hazardous fuels, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve forest health.  The decision to proceed with each pile burn will depend on multiple factors, including snowpack, fuel moisture levels, air quality, ventilation, forecast weather and wind, and resource availability.

Prescribed Fire for Forest Health

To maintain resiliency, fire-dependent forests in the Southwest region must undergo fire disturbance on a regular basis. Fire managers can do this in several ways. Pile burning is meant to treat slash, like branches, piled by thinning crews Broadcast burns in contrast are measured applications under specified conditions that confine fire to a predetermined area. Each of these treatments is intended to reduce flammable fuels and the risk of large high intensity wildfires.

Managing Prescribed Fire Differently

The SFNF has updated and changed our prescribed fire program planning process in accordance with the National Prescribed Fire Review recommendations. This includes using a new prescribed fire plan template, considering new elements in the Go/No Go checklist, following a different approval process and briefing procedure. Some of the specific elements fire managers include in their plans is conducting pile burns with sufficient snow fall on the ground on and around the piles to help prevent fire from spreading outside the project area ensuring we meet air quality regulations by the New Mexico Air Quality Bureau and having contingency resources within 30 minutes to one hour from pile burn locations. The SFNF incorporates available technology like infrared (IR) sensing drones and handheld devices as a critical tool in monitoring prescribed fires for residual heat invisible to the naked eye. The Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) with IR will help fire personnel determine when the pile burns are called out. A prescribed fire is determined to be out when vegetation is no longer burning within the area.

Pile Burn Locations

The projects under consideration, all of which are cleared for implementation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), are:

Cuba Ranger District:

Cuba Ranger District will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec.  6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cuba District Office to share winter pile burning plans with the local community.

• Deer Lake Piles
• Tusas West Piles
• American Park Piles

Coyote Ranger District:

Coyote Ranger District will be holding a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 5:00 pm at the Coyote District Office to share winter pile burning plans with the local community.

• Lino Piles
• Gobernador Piles

Jemez Ranger District:

• San Juan East Piles
• Mesa Verde Piles

Espanola Ranger District:

• Pacheco Piles
• Hyde Park Piles

To Learn More

• As pile burn locations and dates are confirmed, the SFNF will post regular updates to our SFNF Website andFacebook page.
• To join the forest news release email list, send a request to our public affairs inboxSM.FS.sfnfpao@usda.gov
• Prescribed fire information will be posted to NM Fire Info  and InciWeb.
• Districts will conduct public meetings, contact residents, businesses, landowners, cooperators, local fire departments and smoke sensitive individuals, and proper signage will be placed where appropriate and needed. Call district offices for specific information.