Over 8,000 acres of prescribed burning planned for spring

TAOS, NM—April 4, 2022—Carson National Forest fire managers are planning to conduct prescribed fires throughout this spring if conditions allow. Crews intend to treat 8,391 acres throughout the Forest between April 18 and May 31. Project locations and sizes are (vicinity maps attached):

• Valle Vidal: 905 acres one mile east of the McCrystal Campground (North Hart Cyn. Rx).
• Angel Fire (two units): 1,301 acres three miles northwest of the community (La Jara Rx); the other is 286 acres three miles to the west (Apache Rx).
• Tres Piedras: 3,318 acres south of town (Tio Gordito Rx).
• El Rito: 1,669 acres 8 miles to the north but could expand to 4,543 acres if the opportunity presents itself (Alamosa Rx).
• Canjilon: 912 acres east of town (Canjilon Rx).

Ignition notices and burn updates will be posted to the Forest’s website and social media (Twitter/Facebook), as well as the New Mexico Fire Information website.

These projects help restore forest structure to fire-adapted areas of the Carson National Forest. Fire suppression, drought, invasive weeds, insects and disease, and climate change have contributed to a buildup of hazardous fuel that can now lead to extreme fire behavior and subsequent severe effects on the landscape. Returning fire to the landscape in a planned, measured manner by a team of experts, under specific environmental conditions, meets land management goals.  It also aids public safety, giving firefighters a safer space to work between communities and an approaching wildfire.

The decision of when to implement a specific prescribed burn depends on multiple conditions, including the national wildland fire preparedness level and resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality, ventilation, and forecasted weather and winds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fire managers consider smoke impacts to communities before making a final decision to implement a prescribed fire. Careful planning and implementation actions are exercised to reduce smoke impacts to communities and roadways as much as foreseeably possible.

Prescribed fires on the Forest are managed in compliance with New Mexico state regulations on air quality and smoke management. 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 can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website.

###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.