Mountainair Ranger District Plans for Prescribed Burn on Thursday, March 1st

Mountainair, NM, February 27, 2018 – Thanks to recent moisture and the possibility of more moisture on Wednesday, Fire Managers on the Mountainair Ranger District are planning to resume the Thunderbird Prescribed Burn on Thursday and Friday, March 1^st and 2^nd.  Prescribed fires are planned ignitions conducted under specific conditions to restore fire dependent ecosystems.  These fires promote forest health in many ways such as reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients, and increasing habitat diversity.  They are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.  The following will be conducted as conditions allow:

• Thunderbird Prescribed Fire – up to 288 acres will be treated in the Manzano Mountains. If conditions are suitable, fire crews will broadcast burn near the Thunderbird private property just north of FR#275. This is a continuation of the burns started last October and November.  This burn is located within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management Project area.  This area was previously treated, so fire personnel will now burn the excess material.  Smoke may be visible from NM State Highways 55, 41, 60 and 337 as well as Forest Roads 275, 422 and 253.

As always, this burn will only be conducted if conditions are conducive to safely meeting our objectives.  Factors to be considered include current and expected weather, fuel moistures and resource availability.  If all factors fall within the Thunderbird prescription, ignitions will proceed on Thursday morning.  When ignited, fire crews will monitor the burns for as long as necessary, including weekend patrols.

Prescribed fires are planned in coordination with the New Mexico Department of Environmental Quality http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/ and every effort is made to minimize smoke impacts; however, smoke from prescribed fires is inevitable.  Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to take precautionary measures.  Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health website at https://nmtracking.org/fire

For more information, please call the Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.