SANTA FE, NM – Jan. 5, 2021 – After completing the Thompson Ridge, Cat Mesa and Hillside prescribed pile burns, fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, including snowpack, fuel moisture levels, air quality, wind direction and weather forecasts, to implement additional pile burns on the […]
Continue readingSFNF Hopes to Implement La Cueva, East Rowe Mesa Prescribed Burns this Winter
SANTA FE, NM – Dec. 11, 2020 – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are looking at a potential window between Dec. 14, 2020, and March 31, 2021, to implement the previously announced La Cueva and Rowe Mesa prescribed burns to reduce the risk of wildfire. The 133-acre La Cueva pile burn […]
Continue readingCat Mesa Pile Burns Continue Today
SANTA FE, NM – Dec. 10, 2020 – After a successful test ignition, crews are continuing with the previously announced Cat Mesa pile burns today to reduce the amount of hazardous fuels on the ground. The winter storm currently moving through New Mexico has created optimal conditions to burn slash piles. Snow on the ground […]
Continue readingHyde Park, Cat Mesa Pile Burns a Go Today
SANTA FE, NM – Dec. 3, 2020 – After successful test ignitions, crews are proceeding with the previously announced Hyde Park and Cat Mesa pile burns today to reduce the amount of hazardous fuels on the ground. The recent winter storm that moved through New Mexico helped create optimal conditions to burn slash piles. Snow […]
Continue readingSFNF Adds Cat Mesa Pile Burn to the List for Implementation this Week
SANTA FE, NM – Dec. 2, 2020 – Taking the favorable winter weather into consideration, fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are considering an additional pile burn this week, adding the previously announced Cat Mesa prescribed pile burn on the Jemez Ranger District to the list for implementation if conditions are favorable. […]
Continue readingSFNF May Implement Hyde Park, Thompson Ridge Pile Burns this Week
SANTA FE, NM – Dec. 1, 2020 – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are looking at a potential window this week to implement the previously announced Hyde Park and Thompson Ridge prescribed pile burns to reduce the risk of wildfire. The 132-acre Hyde Park pile burn near Black Canyon Campground on […]
Continue readingSanta Fe National Forest Lifts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
SANTA FE, NM – Nov. 10, 2020 – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will lift campfire and smoking restrictions effective 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, based on decreasing fire danger. The forest implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions on Oct. 23 to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire during extreme drought conditions, historically low […]
Continue readingSanta Fe National Forest Plans Pile Burns to Reduce Fuels, Improve Forest Resilience
SANTA FE, NM – Nov. 5, 2020 – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are monitoring conditions on the ground to find potential windows to burn piles of woody debris in several previously thinned areas across the forest. Forest restoration treatments, including thinning and prescribed fire, help reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife […]
Continue readingSanta Fe National Forest Implements Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Due to Extreme Drought, Very High Fire Danger
SANTA FE, NM – Oct. 22, 2020 – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire during extreme drought conditions, historically low fuel moisture levels and very high fire danger. The Stage 1 restrictions will go into effect forest-wide at 6 a.m. on Friday, […]
Continue readingSmoke Visible from Interior of Medio Fire
SANTA FE, NM – Oct. 12, 2020 – A green pocket of fuel surrounded by black inside the Medio Fire perimeter is burning, putting up visible smoke but posing no threat to any values at risk. Local fire resources are monitoring the interior pocket which is about a quarter of a mile from the Medio […]
Continue readingSFNF May Implement La Presa Prescribed Burn on Coyote Ranger District
SANTA FE, NM – Sept. 30, 2020 – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are looking at a potential window to implement the previously announced La Presa prescribed burn on Mesa los Indios near Forest Road 473. If conditions are favorable, crews could treat the 1,200-acre unit as early as the last […]
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BAER Team Completes Rapid Assessment of Medio Fire Severity, Impacts
SANTA FE, NM – Sept. 24, 2020 – The Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team assigned to the Medio Fire on the Santa Fe National Fire (SFNF) completed a rapid assessment of the fire’s effects, including the potential for post-fire flooding, erosion and sedimentation. The BAER Team’s primary focus was on immediate risks […]
Continue readingSanta Fe National Forest Considers Fall Prescribed Burns to Reduce Fuels Loads, Improve Forest Resilience
SANTA FE, NM – Sept. 17, 2020 – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are taking a carefully considered look at resuming the limited use of prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife habitat, and create healthier, more resilient forest and watershed ecosystems. A final decision on whether to proceed with […]
Continue readingMedio Fire Update Sept. 14, 2020: 100% Containment
This will be the final update on the Medio Fire unless conditions change. Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 4,010 acres Containment: 100% Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Current status: The Medio Fire is 100% contained. Firefighters are monitoring the perimeter to ensure the lines are […]
Continue readingMedio Fire Update Sept. 11, 2020: Minimal Movement on Northeast Corner of Medio Fire
Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 4,010 acres Containment: 95% Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Current status: Moisture and cooler temperatures over the last few days minimized fire growth on the northeast corner of the Medio Fire, pushing into the fire scar from the 2011 Pacheco […]
Continue readingSanta Fe National Forest Lifts Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
SANTA FE, NM – Sept. 10, 2020 – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will lift campfire and smoking restrictions effective 8 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 11, 2020, due to widespread moisture across the forest and decreasing fire danger. The forest implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions on Aug. 26 to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire […]
Continue readingMedio Fire Update Sept. 10, 2020: Substantial Precipitation Minimizes Fire Behavior
Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 4,010 acres Containment: 95% Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Current status: The Medio Fire received substantial precipitation overnight minimizing fire behavior and growth. No flooding has been reported. […]
Continue readingMedio Fire Update Sept. 9, 2020: Cold Front Helps Increase Containment of Medio Fire
Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 4,010 acres Containment: 95% Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Current status: Containment lines continue to hold as strong winds from the northwest pushed the Medio Fire into the […]
Continue readingMedio Fire Update Sept. 8, 2020: Medio Fire Continues to Push into 2011 Pacheco Fire Scar
Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 3,948 acres Containment: 90% Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Current status: The Medio Fire continues to burn dead and down timber in the northeast corner, pushing into the fire scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire. Fire activity added 50 acres […]
Continue readingMedio Fire Update Sept. 7, 2020: Pockets of Unburned Fuels Heat Up Due to High Temps, Single-Digit Humidity
Closure Order Prohibits the Public from Entering the Area Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 3,898 acres Containment: 90% Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Current status: The Medio Fire made a little push on the northeast corner into the fire scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire, […]
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