Prescribed burns on Smokey Bear Ranger District

UPDATE: All broadcast burn operations (87-acres) were completed on April 11. Crews will continue to monitor the area for hotspots. Expect smoky conditions to continue to clear throughout the day and weekend. This will be the final update for this prescribed burn, unless there is a significant development to report.

UPDATE: Slash piles in the project footprint were successfully burned on April 10. Crews will begin broadcast burns on April 11, 2024, when ground conditions are drier and broadcast burn conditions improve.

The Smokey Bear Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest will be conducting prescribed burns on the Cedar Creek Prescribed Burn Project Area from April 10-11, 2024, with continued monitoring after.

The prescribed burns will focus on approximately 87 acres within the 730-acre Cedar Creek Prescribed Burn Project Area.

Smoke will be visible in and around Ruidoso. The project area will also affect the following trails: Fitness Trail (T90), Lower Cedar Creek Trail (120A), and Trails 120B, 120C, and 120D. The Sam Tobias Day use area will also be affected by operations.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to be mindful of signage in the area, and smoky conditions on trails and roadways.

Cancellations can occur on short notice, updates will be posted here and at https://www.facebook.com/SmokeyBearRangerDistrictWUI, as well as https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/nmlnf-lincoln-national-forest-prescribed-fire-and-pile-burns-spring-2024.