November 12, 2026 
Favorable weather conditions must be in place for hazardous fuels reduction work
The Santa Fe National Forest is planning prescribed pile burns in the Cuba, Jemez, Española, and Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger Districts. Forest Service officials estimate this work may continue through the winter, as conditions allow. Certified prescribed fire specialists use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation, protect local communities, infrastructure and natural and cultural resources from wildfire risk, improve wildlife habitat, enhance watershed health, and restore fire adapted ecosystems.
Type of Work:
Pile burning is meant to treat slash, like branches, piled by thinning crews with the aim of reducing flammable fuels. The decision to proceed with each pile burn will depend on multiple factors, including snowpack, air quality, ventilation, forecast weather and wind, and resource availability. Pile burning is planned for the following areas:
Cuba Ranger District
- Rock Creek Landing Piles – 209 acres located in Sandoval County.
- Tusas West Unit 2 – 224 acres located in Sandoval County.
Jemez Ranger District
- Hill Unit 2 – 38 acres located in Sandoval County.
- Horseshoe – 166 acres located in Sandoval County.
- San Antonio Landing Piles – 317 acres located in Sandoval County.
- Barley Canyon – 95 acres located in Sandoval County.
Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District
- Glorieta Mast Piles 1 and 2 – 123 acres in Santa Fe County.
Española Ranger District
- Hyde Park North Ridge – 42 acres located in Santa Fe County.
- Thompson Ridge Piles – 146 acres located in Santa Fe County.
- Tesuque Piles – 375 acres located in Santa Fe County.
Closures or Safety Notes:
No closures are associated with these planned prescribed pile burns. However, visitors should remain alert in the area as firefighters work.
Smoke Information:
While smoke may be visible, the Forest Service works closely with air quality specialists and closely monitors smoke during prescribed fires. Prescribed fires are timed for best smoke management. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for current air quality information.
If smoke is present on roadways, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights and close their windows at night. 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 may be postponed or canceled.
Stay Informed:
For current updates about the prescribed fire schedule, visit:
• Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/santafe
• Social media: Facebook and X
• NM Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/
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.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Comments are closed.