Prescribed Burn Planned on the Santa Fe National Forest Jemez and Cuba Ranger Districts
Santa Fe, NM – Nov. 20, 2015 – For Immediate Release. Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest are planning to conduct three pile burns on the Jemez and Cuba Ranger Districts sometime between Nov. 30 and Dec. 30, 2015. That window is dependent on the amount of snowfall on the ground as well as other favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, and may be extended into 2016. Once ignitions begin, they are expected to last two to three days.
The planned prescribed burns will treat:
486 acres in Joaquin Canyon eight miles west of Jemez Springs
35 acres on Thompson Ridge nine miles north of Jemez Springs and
100 acres in San Juan Canyon five miles east of Jemez Springs.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These fires mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. The prescribed burns are designed to remove dead forest fuels, provide community protection and promote forest health. Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
Smoke from the prescribed burns will be monitored, and the information will be available to provide health advisories as necessary. Lingering smoke may be present for up to one week after ignitions are complete. Smoke will likely be visible from Jemez Springs, the Pueblo of Jemez, Gilman, Los Alamos, Cuba, Albuquerque and Highway 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 New Mexico Department of Health website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.
For additional information about these prescribed burns, please contact the Jemez Ranger Station at 575-829-3535 or visit New Mexico Fire Information at www.nmfireinfo.com.