Prescribed Pile Burn to begin east of Santa Fe as soon as January 8

Santa Fe, NM – The Forest Stewards Guild and The Nature Conservancy will utilize snowy conditions to conduct a prescribed pile burn on Nature Conservancy land this winter on up to 120 acres located just east of Santa Fe, NM beginning as soon as 1/8/24 and continuing throughout the winter as conditions allow. 

The area will be treated with hand ignitions by trained and qualified firefighters working under a burn boss within the parameters of an approved and permitted burn plan. The amount and area burned will be contingent on wind, snow depth, temperature, and expected weather patterns and may be postponed and/or cancelled until conditions are favorable. All burn operations will occur with snow on the ground and will be patrolled until out.

The piles consist of dead woody material from previous hazard fuels reduction projects. This work reduces risk to lives and property from wildfire and improves the health and long-term resilience of forested watersheds and communities by addressing wildfire. 

Due to the location of the Aztec Springs Prescribed Pile Burn and its proximity to the city, smoke will be visible from City of Santa Fe, State Road 475, State Road 590, and State Road 84/285. Smoke may settle into lower elevations and drainages overnight but should lift by mid-morning. Lingering smoke may be present for up to two days after ignitions are complete.

The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition offers a HEPA Filter Loan program to assist smoke sensitive individuals during the burn. These filters are distributed on a first come- first served basis. For more information please visit: www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program/.

For more information regarding the prescribed burn, please contact Eytan Krasilovsky at 505-470-0185.