Esquibel Prescribed Fire Could Begin Next Week

For the Record: An earlier version of this news release stated ignitions could begin as early as May 26. The correct date is May 27. We regret the error.

Working with a meteorologist, Carson National Forest fire managers are looking for opportunities to begin the Esquibel Prescribed Fire to the north of Tres Piedras, N.M. As of this morning’s forecast, a timeframe for fire crews to begin ignitions could arrive as early as Monday, May 27, after a red flag warning on Saturday.

“As we do for each prescribed fire, we are watching the weather and conditions very closely,” said District Ranger Angie Krall, who will be the approving official on the project. “If the forecast changes for the worse, so will our plans, and the work will be postponed.”

To obtain on-site weather data more accurately, fire crew members set up a mobile remote automatic weather station near the prescribed fire unit.

The Esquibel Unit is 2,962 acres. It is located northwest of Tres Piedras and south of Forest Road 83 (map).

Crews will apply fire to the understory of forested areas, targeting fuels on the forest floor, such as leaf litter, downed branches, brush. The fire may fully burn occasional single trees or stands, which will help create an open canopy. Crews will use recently greened-up grassland areas within the unit as holding features, along with the Forest Road 83 and two prescribed fires from 2015 and 2021.

Ignitions are expected to last up to two days. Once complete, crews will regularly patrol and monitor the fire until it’s called out.

The public can get updates for the prescribed fire on InciWeb, Carson National Forest social media (Facebook, X) and New Mexico Fire Information. Air quality data can be found at the Fire and Smoke Map.