Santa Fe National Forest prescribed fire update

With the recent and forecast snow fall the Santa Fe National Forest continues pile burn projects across districts. The decision to proceed with each pile burn depends on multiple factors including persistent snowpack, air quality, ventilation, and resource availability. Once ignited the piles are patrolled regularly and infrared detection devices such as a handheld thermal camera and an Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS drone) 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.

Piles are made from the debris left after fuel reduction projects that involve thinning or cutting of trees in the forest. Fire managers conduct pile burns because it is the most efficient option to reduce forest debris at the scale and speed needed to reduce wildfire risk. These prescribed fire projects are part of a bigger effort to address the wildfire crisis with objectives to reduce wildfire risk to communities and create a forest more resilient to natural fire in the future.

Cuba Ranger District

• All pile burn project areas are covered with snow. Fire crews will continue to monitor units through the winter. There are no immediate plans to ignite the remaining piles in the American Park or Deer Lake units. Fire managers will continue to evaluate conditions for potential future prescribed fire operations.

Coyote Ranger District

• Ignitions will begin on the Lino piles next week as conditions allow. This 99-acre project is located southwest of mile marker 3 on Forest Road 103. The machine piles are composed of ponderosa pine from logging slash. Smoke may be visible from State Road 96, State Road 84 near Abiquiu Dam, and the communities of Coyote and Gallina.
  Smoke may impact adjacent private land inholdings within the Cordova area.
• Fire crews have completed 77 acres of the 172-acre Gobernador pile project located at the north end of the district along Forest Roads 8,11,169FE, and 64.

Espanola Ranger District

• Ignitions started and ceased on the Hyde Park pile project Jan. 11, because of too much snow in the unit and on piles making it difficult for fire managers to light the piles. As soon as snow conditions allow and ventilation categories for smoke management are met pile burning may proceed.

Jemez Ranger District

• Ignitions will begin next week on the Mesa Verde piles as conditions allow. This 25-acre project is adjacent to Sierra De Los Pinos community and Forest Road 10. Smoke may impact State Highway 4 and, the community of Sierra De Los Pinos. Please drive with caution on State Highway 4 near the project area.
• Fire crews completed 171 acres of the San Juan East piles on Jan. 10. Good ventilation helped with the pace and amount of acreage burned while minimal smoke was produced.
  District fire crews will continue to check the piles over the weekend and monitor the unit focusing on northern and eastern perimeters.

For more information on winter prescribed fire activities visit the SFNF website, NM Fire Info, and the SFNF Facebook page.