Gila National Forest to begin prescribed fires

Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work

(Silver City, NM, September 18, 2026) — Gila National Forest is planning prescribed fire
operations this fall, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through
spring as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation
to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Prescribed slash pile burning planned for the area include:

• NM Highway 59 Phase II piles (Sierra County, NM Highway 59, approximately 15 miles
  northwest of Winston, NM)
• Baca slash pit (Catron County, Forest Road 13D, approximately 13 miles south of
  Quemado, NM)
• Luna slash piles (Catron County, U.S. Highway 180, Forest Road 901 and Dry Blue Road,
  approximately 1.5 miles south of Luna, NM)
• Divide Well piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4080A, approximately 10 miles northwest
  of Mimbres, NM)
• Lincoln Canyon piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4079T, approximately 12 miles
  northwest of Mimbres, NM)
• Juan Mesa North piles (Grant County, Forest Road 152, approximately 9 miles north of
  Mimbres, NM)
• Cooney Canyon piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4080T, approximately xx miles
  northwest of Mimbres, NM)
• Sapillo piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4078T at Sapillo Campground, approximately
  14 miles northwest of Mimbres, NM)
• Eckleberger Units 1-2 piles (Catron County, approximately 16 miles southeast of Reserve,
  NM)
• Doe Gun piles (Catron County, Forest Road 141, approximately 11 miles southeast of
  Reserve, NM)
• Gilita slash pit (Catron County, Forest Road 713, approximately 22 miles south of
  Reserve, NM)
• SU Canyon slash pit (Catron County, Forest Road 4092R, approximately 4 miles west of
  Reserve, NM)
• Little Walnut piles (Grant County, Little Walnut Road, approximately 5 miles north of
  Silver City, NM)
  Additionally, crews will be preparing the following prescribed fire units for broadcast burning:
• Tierra Blanca (Sierra County, Forest Road 522, approximately 1 mile east of Kingston,
  NM)
• Hinkle Park (Catron County, Forest Road 209, approximately 13 miles south of Luna,
  NM)
• Pine Cienega (Grant County, Brushy Mountain Road, approximately 8 miles south of
  Mule Creek, NM)
• Gomez South (Grant County, Little Walnut Road, approximately 5 miles north of Silver
  City, NM)
• Little Walnut Y (Grant County, Little Walnut Road, approximately 5 miles north of Silver
  City, NM)

Those areas may close to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs
along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information
about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn
on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant,
scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media
channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county
emergency management officials when burning begins.

About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together
to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and
technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and
recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the
nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland
fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private
landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an
additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.