Crews Plan for Pile Burning on the Carson National Forest

With the arrival of more winter weather, Carson National Forest fire crews and partners are planning to restart pile burning as early as Jan. 12. The exact timing of ignitions will depend on wind, weather, fuel moisture conditions and required approvals. 

Crews are currently evaluating the possibility of starting near Capulin Peak above Taos Canyon and south of Peñasco, N.M., but other locations are possible. 

Taos Canyon 

Piles from 134 acres of thinning near Capulin Peak and the Taos Pueblo boundary are ready for burning. This will be the first prescribed fire operation in the 10,000-acre Pueblo Ridge Restoration Project area. 

The project aims to address numerous goals, including reducing the threat of wildfire to the Pueblo and private lands, as well as the watersheds on both sides of the ridge (the Rio Fernando de Taos to the south and Rio Pueblo to the north). 

Peñasco 

Crews are planning to continue work on the Rio Trampas Project, where yearslong efforts with partners are ongoing to improve area forest health and reduce the threat of wildfire to several villages separated by Forest Service lands. 

Ignitions are planned for piles from 549 acres of thinning, split up in three units near the following villages: 

• South of Chamisal 
• Southwest of El Valle
• Between Trampas and Ojo Sarco on the west side of Hwy. 76. 

A map is available on the pile burning alert page. 

Smoke 

Unlike large wildfires, prescribed fires are short-term in duration and planned with advance notice. Staff coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department to conduct ignitions on days when smoke impacts are minimized. 

Nonetheless, smoke will be present and may settle in some local or farther out areas in the evenings and overnight. Taking care of your health is important as smoke can affect everyone. And preparing for prescribed fire helps you become smoke-ready for wildfires, when smoke abruptly shows up and can last longer. Smoke-ready tips are available online. 

Get Updates 

Daily updates will be available online once ignitions begin. 

The public can sign up for future email notices about prescribed fires and more at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/carson/keep-in-touch.