Esquibel Prescribed Fire Update #3

On Wednesday, fire crews had another successful day on the Esquibel Prescribed Fire, treating 1,200 acres. They are back this morning to continue ignitions. 5 to 10 mph winds are expected today, according to the latest National Weather Service spot forecast. Fire managers are also using a portable remote automatic weather station, as well as two permanent stations nearby, to closely monitor conditions on site.

Yesterday, crew members, including the Forest Stewards Guild All Hands All Lands Burn Team, completed blacklining the entire prescribed fire unit. Blacklining is pre-burning fuels along the control line before interior areas are treated. To date, 1,976 acres have been treated.

Crew members today will focus ignitions within the interior of the 2,962-acre Esquibel Unit. Ignitions could last through Friday.

Residents and visitors in the area will likely observe smoke coming from the unit, as well as the Indios Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest. Check the Fire and Smoke Map for local air quality and use the Environmental Protection Agency’s smoke-ready toolbox for protective actions. A limited number of indoor air filter units, courtesy of the Forest Stewards Guild, are available on loan for nearby smoke-sensitive residents. Call the Tres Piedras Ranger Station at 575-758-8678 for availability.

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

Spring burning ecologically mimics historical fire behavior. Most fires would naturally have started during pre-monsoon seasons and burned through the summer until rains put them out. Spring burning helps give plant and tree species the best opportunity to bounce back after a disturbance. For grasses and shrubs, the fire kills the tops, but the roots are still intact because of wetter soil. The fire introduces ash, which has elements and natural chemicals that act like fertilizers. The first rainstorm of the monsoon season will mix with that fertilizer and prompt new growth.

Public information officers will continue to post updates on InciWeb, Carson National Forest social media channels (Facebook, X) and New Mexico Fire Information as operations continue.