Fire Operations Continue on Mt. Taylor Ranger East La Jara Prescribed Fire

5/18/24 UPDATE:

Fire operations continue today on Mt. Taylor Ranger – East La Jara Prescribed Fire of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands

Yesterday, fire crews completed ignitions on 149 acres of the East La Jara prescribed fire within blocks 1, 2 & 3. Today, crews plan to continue ignitions on additional units within the project area.

The East La Jara Prescribed Fire area is 7 miles NE of Grants NM. Smoke may be visible from Grants, Acoma, Laguna, Cubero and Seboyeta.

Ignitions are dependent upon agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in the prescribed fire plan. Optimal conditions result in effective smoke ventilation and dispersal and help achieve the desired effects needed to accomplish the burn plan objectives.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires are intended to reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression.