Prescribed Burns on the Sacramento Ranger District

The Lincoln National Forest is tentatively a broadcast prescribed burn on the Sacramento Ranger District from March 5-8, 2024.

Crews will focus on 200 acres within the 16 Springs Project Area on March 5, with additional acres treated the following day depending on progress and weather conditions. There will be continued monitoring of the area after operations cease.

During and after operations, smoke may be visible in the 16 Springs area, Mayhill, Cloudcroft, and Hope. Following completion, crews will continue to monitor for hot spots, as well as regrowth and forest health in the project areas.

Signs will be set up alerting the public to the project area. Visitors are advised to be aware of their surroundings, and to remain outside the project area.

Exact ignition dates and scope of work depend upon agency administrator approval and conditions within the ranges outlined in Lincoln National Forest’s prescribed fire plan. These plans can be postponed on short notice due to developing conditions at the burn site.

The 16 Springs Project Area is more than 2,000 acres located in the Sacramento Ranger District. The project is centered on vegetation reduction measures for the land, including prescribed burns, fuel mastication, and timber removal for long-term forest health and large-scale wildfire risk mitigation in the area.

The Lincoln National Forest’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape.