The Lincoln National Forest Plans Prescribed Burning

(Alamogordo, NM, October 08, 2026) — The Lincoln National Forest is planning prescribed pile burns on the Smokey Bear Ranger District this October. Forest Service officials estimate that work could begin as early as October 13, 2026. The first project would be the Smokey Bear Ranger District Administrative Pile Burn on Tuesday, followed by the Skinner Block 2 project on October 14, 2026. Additional implementation may continue through the end of October, as conditions allow. Certified prescribed fire specialists use prescribed fires to reduce overgrown vegetation, helping protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from extreme, high-severity wildfires.

Type of Work:

• Smokey Bear Ranger District Admin Pile Burn — 2 acres located behind the Smokey Bear Ranger District Office off of Mechem Dr. in Ruidoso, NM.
• Skinner Block 2 — 115 acres located north of Cora Dutton Rd. near Nogal, NM. 

Closures or Safety Notes:
No closures are associated with this planned prescribed fire activity. However, visitors should remain alert in the area as firefighters work.

Smoke Information:
Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed fire in the communities of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Alto, and Nogal, NM. While smoke may be visible, the Forest Service works closely with air quality specialists and closely monitor smoke during prescribed fires. Prescribed fires are timed for best smoke management. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/  for current air quality information. 

When driving through smokey areas:

• Slow down!
• Turn on headlights.
• Using hazards in areas of heavy smoke to improve visibility for other drivers.

Please do not report these fires, as firefighters will remain on scene throughout ignitions and patrol afterwards.

Additional Notifications:
The Forest Service will evaluate conditions in the days and hours before ignition. If conditions are not favorable, planned prescribed fire activities will be postponed or canceled.

Stay Informed:
For current updates about the prescribed fire schedule, visit:
• Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln
• Social media: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnNationalForest

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.

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