Prescribed Fire on State Line Planned

Operations Will Cross the Colorado-New Mexico Border

Carson National Forest crews will assist on the project, which includes 192 acres on the New Mexico side of the state line.

With favorable conditions in the forecast, Rio Grande National Forest fire crews have begun preparing for the 1,000-acre Bighorn/Stateline prescribed fire project located approximately six miles southwest of Mogote, CO. Ignitions could begin as early as Tuesday, June 11.

Two of the burn units are on the Conejos Peak Ranger District in Colorado and one 192-acre unit is on the Carson National Forest in New Mexico.

“There is a need to reduce fuel loading and prepare a seed bed that will be receptive to new growth,” said Judi Perez, acting Conejos Peak district ranger. “After a couple of years of unfavorable burn windows, we are excited to resume prescribed fire operations and to be working again with our Carson National Forest partners across the state line.”

The project aims to reduce downed slash from previous hand thinning treatments that were designed to improve forest health with secondary benefits of improving big game habitat and reducing fuel loading. The prescribed fire will reduce the overall fuel load, cycle nutrients, and stimulate the growth of grass, forbs and aspen. 

Due to the location of the planned fire, smoke will be visible from around the southern San Luis Valley and parts of the Tres Piedras Ranger District and may be heavier locally. No significant smoke impacts to towns or highways are expected.

The Bighorn/Stateline project is part of the 3.8 million-acre Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, which supports the national Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Updates for the Bighorn/Stateline will be posted on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/corgf-bighorn-stateline-prescribed-fire

Burning will be announced on the Rio Grande National Forest’s Facebook and X social media platforms.