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Jemez Ranger District Slash Pit Prescribed Burn Planned for February

SANTA FE, NM – February 2, 2018 – For Immediate Release. To take advantage of favorable conditions, to include fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, fire managers on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will evaluate weather conditions between now and February 28 to burn the community slash pit and reduce accumulated slash.

The burn is expected to be completed in one day.

The slash pit is sponsored by the Jemez Ranger District, and it provides an opportunity for community members who are active in creating defensible space (cutting brush and woody material from their personal properties) and deposit the slash at a central location for disposal.

“We encourage the public to use the slash pit because it’s always good for people to do their part in protecting personal property from wildfires,” said Terrance Gallegos, Jemez Ranger District Fire Management Officer. “We just ask that folks are respectful and only put forest fuels into the pit.”

The slash pit is approximately half an acre in size and is located off FR 106, one quarter mile north of the community of Thompson Ridge. Smoke may be visible from La Cueva, Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo and San Ysidro.

Smoke from the prescribed burn will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau regulations are met. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease 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 the prescribed burn, please contact the Jemez Ranger District at 575.829.3535.