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Jemez Ranger District to start Vallecitos piles burn Dec. 4

Santa Fe, NM—December 3, 2018. U.S. Forest Service fire managers on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) expect to begin ignitions on Vallecitos piles Dec. 4 through Dec. 14 to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire.

Crews plan to take advantage of favorable conditions, to include fuel moisture levels, air quality, and weather forecasts, and treat up to 189 acres of piles located three to eight miles northeast of Jemez Springs, one mile southwest of Vallecitos de Los Indios, and north of Cat and San Juan Mesas on Forest Road 135 west of Forest Road 10.

Smoke may be visible from Jemez Pueblo, Jemez Springs, Highway 4, Thompson Ridge, Vallecitos de Los Indios, Sierra Los Pinos, Ponderosa and La Cueva.

Prescribed burns are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire adapted ecosystems. The prescribed burns mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity.

Prescribed burns are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.

Information on air quality and protecting your health using the 5-3-1 visibility method can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at https://nmtracking.org/fire. For information on the HEPA filter loan program, go to https://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program/.

For additional information about the Jemez pile burns, contact the Jemez Ranger District at (575)829-3535.

Lee Taylor, Chief
La Cueva District
Sandoval County FD
575-829-3355 (Office)
575-829-9165 (Fax)
505-269-6435 (Cell)
LaCuevaFire@windstream.net