Media and Public Advisory: East Rowe Mesa Prescribed Burn Looks Good for Wednesday

SANTA FE, NM – Oct. 19, 2021 – If conditions remain favorable, fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) plan to begin implementation of the previously announced East Rowe Mesa prescribed burn on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District as early as Wednesday.

The decision to proceed will depend on multiple factors, including resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality, ventilation, and forecasted weather and wind. Prescribed burns are designed to meet specific objectives and are always managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.

Crews will use hand and aerial ignitions to treat the 2,500-acre treatment area east of State Highway 34 along Rowe Mesa 10 miles south of Pecos, NM. For additional information, refer to the SFNF press release issued on Oct. 6.

The SFNF manages all prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state regulations on air quality and smoke management. Smoke from East Rowe Mesa may impact the communities of Santa Fe, Pecos, Las Vegas, Rowe, Glorieta, La Cueva, North and South San Ysidro, Ilfeld, San Jose, San Juan, Tecolote, Soham, Ribera, Serafina, Bernal and Anton Chico as well as the I-25 corridor, Forest Road 34, County Road 63A and the Pecos National Historical Park.  

Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health by using the 5-3-1 visibility method can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire. People with health concerns can also call NMDOH at 505-827-0006 for additional information. For information on the HEPA filter loan program, go to https://facnm.org/smoke#smokeanchor5.

Fire updates will be posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest’s Facebook and Twitter pages. For more information, contact the Pecos Ranger Station at 505-757-6121 or the Las Vegas Ranger Station at 505-425-3534.

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