SANTA FE, NM – Nov. 21, 2017 – For Immediate Release. Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest hope to take advantage of unseasonably favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, to resume the Vallecitos prescribed burn on the Jemez Ranger District.
Ignitions could begin as early as Tuesday, Nov. 28, on the final 91-acre unit in the Vallecitos treatment area adjacent to the East Fork trail head and NM Highway 4.
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 will 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 burn will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau regulations are being met. 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.