Santa Fe National Forest Pile Burn Update – Ignitions Begin Thursday November 14

Prescribed pile burn ignitions will begin tomorrow, Thursday, November 14, in the Jemez and Cuba Ranger Districts, and on Friday, November 15, in the Española Ranger District. Pile burning is meant to treat slash, like branches, piled by thinning crews with the aim to reduce flammable fuels and mitigate the risk of large high intensity wildfires. The decision to proceed with each pile burn depends on multiple factors, including snowpack, air quality, ventilation, forecast weather and wind, and resource availability.

According to USDA Forest Service Meteorologist Kerry Jones, “Smoke dispersion is expected to be much more favorable on Thursday and Friday as southwest winds increase ahead of the next Pacific storm system, which is expected to affect the Southwest U.S. this weekend into Monday.

This means we will have a couple of favorable days for burning late this week, followed by another round of accumulating snow in the mountains early next week.”

Local communities may experience short duration smoke impacts. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautions. To learn more about the New Mexico Environment Department Smoke Management Program visit Smoke Management Program (nm.gov).

The following projects will begin this week:

Cuba Ranger District

• Ignitions begin Thursday November 14 on the 49-acre Tusas West Unit located east of Forest Road 535 and West of Forest Road 532 along a ridge that runs north/south. This burn unit is located approximately 1.5 miles southwest of Rancho del Chaparral Girl Scout Ranch. Smoke may be visible from Cuba and surrounding communities. Fire managers are looking at 2 days to complete ignitions with hand lighting
• Ignitions begin Thursday November 14 on the 69-acre Deer Lake Unit adjacent to the Deer Lakes community. New Mexico State Road 126 is the unit’s southern boundary.
  This unit is approximately 5 miles from Cuba N.M. Smoke may be visible from Cuba and surrounding communities. Fire managers are looking at 2 days to complete ignitions with hand lighting. For more information contact the Cuba Ranger District at 575-289- 3264.

Jemez Ranger District

• Ignitions begin Thursday November 14 on the 33-acre Seven Springs Unit located off New Mexico State Road 126 near the community of Seven Springs and State Fish Hatchery. Smoke may be visible from Jemez Springs, La Cueva, the community of Seven Springs, and surrounding communities. Fire managers are looking at 2 days to complete ignitions with hand lighting. For more information contact the Jemez Ranger District at 505-829-3535.

Española Ranger District

• Ignitions begin Friday November 15 on the 52-acre North Ridge Unit (Hyde Park Wildland Urban Interface) located on Hyde Park Road and adjacent to Black Canyon Campground. Fire managers are looking at 1 day to complete ignitions with hand lighting. Smoke may be visible from Santa Fe, N.M. and surrounding communities. For more information contact the Espanola Ranger District at 505-753-7331.

To Learn More

• As pile burn locations and dates are confirmed, the SFNF will post regular updates to our SFNF Website and social media pages (Facebook and X). For a list of tentatively planned pile burns visit Santa Fe – News & Events.
• To join the forest news release email list, send a request to our public affairs inbox
  SM.FS.sfnfpao@usda.gov
• Prescribed fire information will be posted to NM Fire Info and InciWeb.

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appropriate and needed. Contact district offices for specific information.