Mt Taylor Ranger District to Implement East La Jara Prescribed Fire as early as May 17

Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 16, 2024 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the previously announced East La Jara prescribed fire (RX) on the Mt Taylor Ranger District as early as Friday May 17, 2024.

Fire crews plan to burn approximately 956 acres 7 miles NE of Grants NM. See map attached.

Smoke may be visible from Grants, Acoma, Laguna, Cubero and Seboyeta.

Ignition will 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. However, smoke may settle into drainages and lower elevations at night but is expected to dissipate as daytime temperatures increase. 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 East La Jara prescribed fire, contact the Mt Taylor Ranger District Office at 505-287-8833 or Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor’s Office: 505-346-3900