The Carson National Forest Thanks Area Residents

Name: Francisquito

Date detected: July 13

Cause: Lightning

Location: Carson NF, El Rito Ranger District, near FR 44 and FR 123

Size: 1999 Acres

Growth Potential: Moderate

Vegetation: Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer

This will be the final release for the Francisquito Fire unless there is a significant change in the fire situation.  The Carson National Forest would like to express its sincere gratitude to the surrounding communities for their support of the management of the Francisquito Fire.  At this time all active management tactics have ended.  All fire lines along the perimeter of the Francisquito Fire held and cooled yesterday and overnight.  The final fire size remained at 1999 acres.  By using a predetermined area and expanding this fire area through ground and aerial ignitions throughout, managers significantly decreased the duration of the fire, thereby reducing the risk to firefighters.  Firefighters remain on scene and will be continuing to secure all existing containment lines.

There should be very little smoke impact today but small smokes may continue to be visible within the fire perimeter as the fire creeps and smolders into unburned pockets.  These interior smokes should not pose any danger to fire containment lines.  Firefighters continue to ensure that the Francisquito fire poses no danger to any values or infrastructure within the area.

The Francisquito Fire provided Carson National Forest officials a great opportunity to use a natural, lightning-caused fire to work within a fire-adapted ecosystem to reduce fuel loading, which under different circumstances could have contributed to the spread of wildfire.  Using the current tactics (ignitions in a predetermined area following a natural start) not only helped reduce firefighter exposure but it also provided many opportunities to improve forest health by protecting the important values in the area including private property, wildlife habitat, range values and vital watersheds to area communities.

Approximately 25 firefighters remain on the Francisquito Fire as part of a type 4 organization.

Smoke could be visible from surrounding communities including Taos, Peñasco, Española, Abiquiu, and El Rito areas. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with heart or respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. For information on air quality and protecting your health, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. For information on the HEPA filter loan program, go to https://facnm.org/smoke/ or contact the El Rito Ranger District 575-581-4554.

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