Prescribed Pile Burn to begin as soon as January 2025 to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk

Santa Fe, NM – The Forest Stewards Guild and The Nature Conservancy will utilize snowy

conditions to conduct a prescribed pile burn on Nature Conservancy land this winter to

complete the last 10 acres of the 120 acres located just east of Santa Fe, NM beginning as soon

as January and continuing throughout the winter as conditions allow. The area will be treated

with hand ignitions by trained and qualified firefighters working under a burn boss within the

parameters of an approved and permitted burn plan. The amount and area burned will be

contingent on wind, snow depth, temperature, and expected weather patterns and may be

postponed and/or cancelled until conditions are favorable. All burn operations will occur with

snow on the ground and will be patrolled until out.

The piles consist of dead woody material from previous hazard fuels reduction projects. This

work reduces risk to lives and property from wildfire and improves the health and long-term

resilience of forested watersheds and communities by addressing wildfire.

Due to the location of the Aztec Springs Prescribed Pile Burn and its proximity to the city,

smoke will be visible from City of Santa Fe, State Road 475, State Road 590, and State Road

84/285. Smoke may settle into lower elevations and drainages overnight but should lift by mid-

morning. Lingering smoke may be present in the days after ignitions are complete.

The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition offers a HEPA Filter Loan program to assist smoke

sensitive individuals during the burn. These filters are distributed on a first come- first served

basis. For more information please visit: http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program/.

A public meeting will be held for this event December 16th at 5:30 PM at the Audubon Center

(details in the attached file) where we will discuss the project and answer any questions you

may have.

For more information regarding the prescribed burn or if you have interest in attending the

burn for observation, please contact Sam Berry at 541-816-6371.

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