Jemez Ranger District Prepares for Vallecitos Prescribed Burn
SANTA FE, NM – Nov. 1, 2016 – For Immediate Release. Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest expect to begin the previously announced Vallecitos prescribed burn on the Jemez Ranger District tomorrow if conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, are favorable. The 363-acre treatment area is adjacent to the East Fork trail head and NM Highway 4. Fire crews plan to treat 100 to 150 acres per day to mitigate smoke impacts.
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. Each prescribed burn is designed to meet specific objectives. The Vallecitos prescribed fire area is 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 Vallecitos prescribed burn will likely be visible from NM Highway 4 between La Cueva and the Jemez Pueblo, US Route 550 from San Ysidro to Bernalillo, Albuquerque, and Interstate 25.
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’s website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.
For additional information about this prescribed burn, please contact the Jemez Ranger District at 575.829.3535.