May 8, 2018 
MAGDALENA, NM, May 8, 2018 –The Magdalena Ranger District began the Gallinas Prescribed Burn on Friday afternoon, May 4, 2018. Favorable conditions allowed firefighters to successfully treat 2,200 acres of pinyon-juniper forest. The burn removed encroaching conifer trees from historic open meadows and canyons bottoms, helping to increase the diversity of ground vegetation, stabilize soils, remove dead debris from the forest floor, and helped to restore the natural fire regime.
Interior underburn on the Gallinas Prescribed burn unit, May 7, 2018. USFS Photo by Ken Watkins
Firefighters will continue to secure and monitored the burn unit’s edge to allow for interior fuels to burn.
The weather forecast for the remainder of the week calls for hot and dry conditions over the Gallinas Prescribe Burn unit. Smoke will continue to be visible from US Highway 60 and State Highway 169, west and northwest of Magdalena, NM. Smoke impacts may occur on Forest Roads 10, 10D, 10E and 128 particularly in the evening hours when temperatures cool. Smoke will be monitored to assess potential health impacts and the Forest Service will coordinate with New Mexico Department of Health website at http://nmtracking.org/fire.
District Ranger Kim Obele stated, “The Gallinas Prescribed Burn is a success due to conducive weather conditions, the assistance of cooperating agencies, and the careful planning and deliberate decision making that went into all aspects of the burn. Final implementation of this project is complete, was done safely, and contributes to the ecological restoration of the Forest.”
To learn more about state-wide fire activity, visit New Mexico Fire Information at https://nmfireinfo.com/. This will be the final update for the Gallinas Prescribed Burn. If you have questions about the Gallinas Prescribed Burn, please contact the Magdalena Ranger District – 575-854-2281or Ken Watkins at kwatkins@fs.fed.us.
NM Fire Info 
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