Jemez Springs, NM - The National Park Service plans to implement prescribed burn projects in Valles Caldera National Preserve between early November and the end of the winter season when conditions allow. The prescribed burns will occur in previously thinned areas where materials have been piled for burning. The burn operations will be completed in phases over several days depending on weather and fuel conditions.
The purpose of these burns is to reduce hazardous fuels and the chance for future high-intensity wildfires. The planned pile burn projects are located within the preserve on South Mountain (980 acres), Cerro Seco (525 acres), Cerro San Luis (670 acres), Valle San Antonio (10 acres), Banco Bonito (2 acres), and an area along New Mexico State Route 4 on the east side of the preserve (22 acres).
Because of the location and elevation, smoke from these burns may be visible from all directions coming into the Jemez Mountains, including La Cueva, Sierra Los Pinos, Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, Cañon, Gilman and Los Alamos. Smoke may linger for a few days after each burn.
A final decision on whether to proceed with a specific prescribed burn will depend on multiple conditions, including the national wildland fire preparedness level and resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality and forecasted weather. The National Park Service will also take a risk-informed approach to managing prescribed fire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prescribed fire is part of a science-based framework for managing ponderosa pine and dry mixed-conifer forests in the preserve to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire and allow low-intensity fire to play its natural role in a frequent-fire ecosystem. Each prescribed burn is designed to meet specific objectives and will be managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
The National Park Service manages prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state regulations on air quality and smoke management. 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 Environmental Public Health Tracking website.
All fire updates will be posted on the preserve’s website, Twitter @VallesCaldera, Facebook page and New Mexico Fire Information website. Smoke-sensitive individuals may also be added to the preserve’s notification system by contacting e-mail us or 575-829-4100, option 3.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
