Crews Prepare for Pile Burning Across Forest

Over 6,500 Acres of Understory Burning Accomplished in October

With the arrival of winter weather in Northern New Mexico, fire crews are preparing to potentially begin pile burning operations across Carson National Forest this fall and winter. Work may first occur along or near Highway 150 and in the Valle Vidal.

The exact days of ignitions for projects will depend on wind, weather and fuel moisture conditions. The public is encouraged to sign up for email updates at fs.usda.gov/goto/CarsonRxUpdates.

“After a productive month of understory burning, we’re looking forward to continuing this critical work by taking advantage of snow for a different kind of prescribed fire,” said Fuels and Fire Staff Officer Brent Davidson. “We seek winter weather for pile burning because the dampened or snow-covered forest floor reduces the chances of fire creeping away.”

Piles are made from slash, such as branches and brush stacked by contractors during thinning work. Thinning and pile burning is often the first step in reducing fuels in dense forest stands. When followed by understory or jackpot burning, it has been shown to be the most effective combination to reduce the threat of wildfire.

A full list of all potential prescribed fires this fall and winter are available on the Carson National Forest website at fs.usda.gov/goto/CarsonRx, where more information about the use of fire in forest restoration is also available. Previously announced understory and jackpot projects may still occur if site-specific conditions and weather allow.

A free event this Sunday will focus on wildfires with short films, local leader discussions on wildfire and forest management, ecological demonstrations, children’s activities, free food and giveaways.

Del Fuego | Wildfire in Focus: A Community Resilience Event will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Taos Center for the Arts.

October Summary

Last month, crews treated over 6,500 acres with understory burning, translating to significant long-term outcomes for forest health, community resilience and public enjoyment of the forest. Some examples:

• After thinning and pile burning in previous years, crews conducted the 1,350-acre La Jara Prescribed Fire directly adjacent to Taos Pines Ranch, a Firewise USA community near Angel Fire. The work reduces the threat of a wildfire approaching the community and the headwaters of the Rio Fernando de Taos, a critical water source for Taos.
• After maintaining 4,500 acres with fire directly adjacent to Vallecitos (Rio Arriba County) last year, this year’s 2,365-acre Sotano Prescribed Fire gave more depth to previous fuels reduction efforts, reducing the threat of a fire approaching the community from the west. It’s part of a nearly 14,000-acre contiguous area with recent fire history.
• Because fire knows no boundaries, crews collaborated with staff from Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve, for the 1,871-acre North Hart Prescribed Fire in the Valle Vidal. It was the first prescribed fire for the Carson National Forest that occurred on forest and privately owned land. The work is part of a 25,000-acre contiguous area where fire has been reintroduced.

The Big Picture

All of this completed and upcoming work is part of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy to reduce the threat of wildfire to communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources. The projects are part of larger landscape efforts:

• The Enchanted Circle on the east side of the forest, where high-risk firesheds are found, is one of the 21 priority landscapes in the nation.
• The Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project on the west side is a priority within the Southwest, protecting forest communities and increasing the health of the watershed, which serves millions of people downstream.

(Photo: Pile burning near Las Trampas, N.M., in January 2024)