Pile Burning Planned for Peñasco, El Rito, Tres Piedras

With a snowstorm this past weekend, fire crews are planning for more pile burning. Ignitions could start as early as Jan. 27 near:

• El Rito (Rio Arriba Co.), off Forest Road 44. Piles from 888 acres of thinning are available in the area for treatment.
• Tres Piedras, west of town near Tusas Valley where piles from 212 acres of thinning are located south of Highway 64.
• Peñasco area, just southwest of the El Valle community and off Forest Road 714 where piles from 143 thinned acres are ready.

What to expect:

• Not all acres will be treated in one day.
• The length of ignitions may take multiple days, sometimes not consecutively.
• Smoldering piles may burn down over a few days and may create a visible overnight glow.
• Updates will be available online.

After the Burn

Once ignitions are completed, crews will continue to patrol and monitor the burned down piles until they are called out.

This process can take months and may include the use of infrared handheld cameras (pictured) and uncrewed aerial systems, popularly known as drones.

Potential Future Locations

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

• Red River, east of town at the Enchanted Forest Cross County Ski Area.
• San Cristobal, east of the community, just northeast of Turley Mill.