Valles Caldera National Preserve to Expand the Managed Redondo Fire
Jemez Springs, NM - Fire crews will expand the Redondo Fire managed burn area along Valles Caldera National Preserve’s western boundary south of Freelove Canyon. Firing operations planned for Thursday and Friday will ultimately help to increase public safety and protect neighboring private land and homeowners.
Over the past eleven days National Park officials have successfully managed the original 200 acre Redondo Fire due to favorable conditions, including monsoonal rains, high humidity, and the availability of fire crews.
"Conditions have been good this year for us to safely manage fires in a closely monitored and confined area," said Valles Caldera Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos. “The goal is to reduce hazardous fuel loads near this developed area to achieve not only ecological benefits, but to improve public safety and help protect our neighboring private property owners." For the duration of the Redondo Fire, the superintendent has issued a closure order for the area and the road into Redondo Meadow.
Smoke is expected to be visible during fire operations through the week and possibly into the weekend. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
