SANTA FE, NM – Sept. 26, 2017 – For Immediate Release. Crews on the Santa Fe National Forest have completed fire operations on the 1,022-acre Deer Creek Fire on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). The lightning-caused wildfire on Peggy Mesa gave fire managers the opportunity to capitalize on a natural ignition to provide long-term benefits to the fire-adapted ecosystem. Objectives for the fire included: mitigating the risk of high-intensity destructive wildfires by reducing excess fuels, including fuelwood slash, bug kill and heavy dead-and-down timber, and reducing tree density providing point protection for historical and cultural sites improving forest health, wildlife habitat and range conditions The burned areas will continue to be assessed and monitored over the next few weeks, and the public will be allowed to enter the area as soon as it is determined to be safe. The top priority on all wildland fire is firefighter and public safety. The...