Fire crews are planning to potentially begin pile burning along and near Highway 150 from Valdez, N.M., to the Taos Ski Valley area as early as Friday, Dec. 1. Piles near San Cristobal, N.M., are also under consideration.  Both areas are within the wildland urban interface, where human development intermingles with the forest.  “To protect […]

Mountainair Ranger District ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Nov.  29, 2023 – Today, per prescribed burn plan objectives, Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews completed ignition of 13 acres of pile burning within the Capilla Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project in the Manzano Mountains. Piles were located between Upper and Lower Red Canyon Campgrounds, just […]

The fire danger rating for the Magdalena, Mount Taylor and Mountainair Ranger Districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have been lowered following recent rain and snow fall. Black Kettle Ranger District: HIGHKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: HIGHMagdalena Ranger District: Low (Rating lowered)Mount Taylor Ranger District: Low (Rating lowered)Sandia Ranger District: LowMountainair Ranger […]

With the arrival of winter weather, Carson National Forest fire crews are preparing to continue prescribed fire activities, this time in the form of pile burning. The exact timing of each project will depend on weather, site conditions and available personnel.  Piles were created from thinning projects in nearly a dozen locations, including near Canjilon, […]

Starting as early as November 29 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Nov.  27, 2023 – Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews are preparing to proceed with prescribed fire on the previously announced Capilla pile burn on the Mountainair Ranger District as early as Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. Fire crews plan to burn approximately 13 acres […]

SANTA FE N.M., Nov.21, 2023— An uncrewed aircraft system (UAS), or drone, equippedwith infrared technology (IR) flew over the Rincon prescribed fire on Nov. 20. No heat wasdetected close to containment lines, but heat sources were identified in the interior of the firearea. These heat areas pose no threat to containment lines, infrastructure, or communities […]

The fire danger rating for the Mount Taylor & Sandia Ranger Districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have been lowered following recent rain activity. Black Kettle Ranger District: HIGHKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: HIGHMagdalena Ranger District: ModerateMount Taylor Ranger District: Moderate (Rating lowered)Sandia Ranger District: Low (Rating lowered)Mountainair Ranger District: Moderate The […]

Despite recent rain and snowfall over the prescribed fire in Alamosa Unit 1, fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor it until fire managers call it out. Crews have been on site patrolling and monitoring the fire since Wednesday, Nov. 15, when the last update was published. Along with some clean-up ignitions the following day, the […]

Fire crews today completed an additional 500 acres of treatment on Alamosa Unit 1, wrapping up ignitions on the project for the time being. Weather and conditions, particularly ventilation of on-site smoke, continue to fluctuate, often in a manner not conducive to prescribed fire.  Fire managers will continue to look for opportunities to finish treating […]

Today in Santa Rosa, fire crews led by the New Mexico Forestry Division completed ignitions at 3:50 p.m. on the Blue Hole Cienega Prescribed Burn. They conducted mop-up and holding operations this afternoon and evening and will continue to monitor the area tomorrow.   As weather conditions proved to be within the prescription plan, crews initiated […]

Due to a change in weather and conditions, including improved ventilation, fire crews are planning to pivot from only patrolling and monitoring to additionally conducting ignitions on Alamosa Unit 1. If a test fire is successful, up to 500 acres may be treated with prescribed fire later today. Check the Fire and Smoke Map to check local […]

Fire crews are continuing to work two prescribed fires across Carson National Forest this week. Crew members are preparing for potential ignitions on Thursday in Alamosa Unit 1 while they wind down work on the McCrystal Rock Unit in Valle Vidal. Alamosa Unit 1 (Rio Arriba County) InciWeb  Fire crews are potentially planning to continue ignitions […]

SANTA FE, N.M., Nov.  14, 2023— Fire managers continue to monitor the remote lightning-caused Horsethief fire in the Pecos Wilderness. The wildland fire was discovered Wednesday, November 1 and is 5-7 acres. There are currently no evacuations or threats to communities or infrastructure from the fire. Located north of National Forest System (NFS) Trail 288 […]

Fire managers continue to monitor the remote lightning-caused Horsethief fire in the Pecos Wilderness. The wildland fire was discovered Wednesday, November 1 and is 5-7 acres. There are currently no evacuations or threats to communities or infrastructure from the fire. Located north of National Forest System (NFS) Trail 288 (Cave Creek) approximately 3 miles northeast […]

Fire crews continued work on two prescribed fire units this weekend, accomplishing 500 acres of treatment on one and postponing the other.  Alamosa Unit 1 (Rio Arriba County) InciWeb  Crews treated 500 acres, completing blackline around the 4,500-acre unit today. Blackining is pre-burning fuels along the control line, in this case roads, before interior areas are […]

Fire crews are back on scene of both prescribed fire projects currently in progress on the Carson National Forest. Here’s the latest. ALAMOSA UNIT 1 (RIO ARRIBA COUNTY) With an improved ventilation rate, fire crews are moving forward with ignitions on up to 500 acres. They plan to complete blackline around the entire 4,500-acre unit […]

It was a quiet day on the prescribed fire front. Here’s the latest on our two current projects. ALAMOSA UNIT 1 (RIO ARRIBA COUNTY) Fire crews on Saturday patrolled and monitored as the fire smoldered, crept and backed. Ignitions did not move forward due to weather and ventilation. They will return Sunday for the same […]

Efforts to improve and maintain forest health continue this weekend. Here’s the latest. ALAMOSA UNIT 1 (RIO ARRIBA COUNTY) Fire crews will return Saturday to look for opportunities with weather and on-site conditions to continue treating the 4,500-acre prescribed fire unit north of El Rito. Crews did not move forward with ignitions today due to […]

Pecos sunflower treatment scheduled as early as Nov. 14   Santa Fe – The New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Forestry Division is planning a prescribed burn at the Blue Hole Cienega Nature Preserve, in Santa Rosa, to take place next week, as early as November 14, 2023.   Crews will treat 115 acres on the preserve, which is bound by Blue Hole Rd., Reilly Rd., State Highway 91, and El Rito Creek. The goal is to […]