Capilla Prescribed Fire Update

Mountainair Ranger District, Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Oct. 17, 2023 – Yesterday’s prescribed fire operation completed ignitions on 72 acres of unit A of the Capilla Prescribed Fire on the Mountainair Ranger District. Crews will continue to secure and monitor the perimeter and interior burn areas of unit A. Residual smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, Torreon and the Estancia Valley as well as westside communities of Rio Communities, Belen and Los Lunas.

Pending favorable conditions, fire managers may look for opportunities later this week to proceed with the remaining units of the Capilla Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project in the Manzano Mountains. These units are located approximately 6 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains, in Torrance County New Mexico. See attached map.

Ignition always depend upon agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in the prescribed fire plan. Desired conditions will result in effective smoke ventilation and dispersal and help achieve the effects needed to accomplish the burn plan objectives. 

The Cibola NF & NGs manages all prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state air quality and smoke management regulations. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the www.airnow.gov/.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires are intended to reduce hazardous fuels accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Additionally, fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Prescribed burns are designed to meet specific objectives and are always managed with firefighter and public safety as the priority.

Implementation announcements and updates on prescribed fire projects will be posted on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF & NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola Twitter sites.

For more information on the Capilla prescribed fire, contact the Mountainair Ranger District Office at 505-847-2990 or Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor’s Office: 505-346-3900