Pile Burning Begins, More Locations Planned on the Carson National Forest

Fire crews pile burned over the last two days with plans to continue Friday. Here’s the latest and what is potentially coming up.

Completed

Taos Canyon: Crews completed ignitions near Capulin Peak Jan. 14, treating piles made from 134 acres of thinning. This was the first prescribed fire within the Pueblo Ridge Restoration Project on the north side of Taos Canyon. Thinning and burning will be ongoing over numerous years to reduce the threat of wildfire to Taos Pueblo, nearby private lands and watersheds.
Near Sipapu: Fire crews conducted the first prescribed fire of the year around Agua Piedra Campground and the barrier-free fishing site on Jan. 13. Crews this summer treated 35 acres around the recreation facilities, addressing hazard trees damaged during wind storms. Firewood was made available to the public and smaller materials were chipped where accessible. About one acre’s worth of smaller materials, unaccessible to a chipper, were also piled, receiving treatment today after having time to dry out.

Scheduled

Peñasco Area: 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 may begin Friday, just south of Chamisal, followed by locations near El Valle and between Trampas and Ojo Sarco on future days (view a map).
Canjilon: Crews will continue work on Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project with plans to treat piles on the southwest (Firday) and northeast (Saturday) sides of the village.

Other Potential Locations

Fire managers will continue to look for opportunities across the forest, as conditions allow. They include: