PRESCRIBED FIRE PLANNED ON SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST
SANTA FE, NM — August 6, 2014 — Fire managers at Santa Fe National Forest are planning to conduct a pile prescribed fire on the Jemez Ranger District. The Los Griegos pile prescribed burn may be conducted August 18 through September 28 only on favorable days as conditions allow. A total of 500 acres of piles may be treated in an area adjacent to the Sierra Los Pinos community, 17 miles southwest of Los Alamos. Small blocks of land may be treated each day to decrease the daily smoke volume.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire dependent ecosystems. These fires mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. Each prescribed fire is designed to meet specific objectives. The Los Griegos prescribed burn is designed to remove dead forest fuels, provide community protection, and promote forest health. These fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
Smoke from the Los Griegos prescribed burn will be monitored to ensure that New Mexico air quality regulations are being met. It will likely be visible from the Sierra Los Pinos community, La Cueva, Jemez Pueblo, San Ysidro, Zia Pueblo, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and Interstate 550. Smoke sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the NM Department of Health website http://nmhealth.org/eheb/airq.shtml
For additional information about the Los Griegos Burn, please contact the Jemez Ranger District at 575-829-3535.
Donna Nemeth
Acting Public Affairs Officer
Santa Fe National Forest
505-438-5320 office
360-951-8486 cell