Truth or Consequences, NM, June 27, 2019—The Gila National Forest, Black Range Ranger District began the Indian Peaks Prescribed Fire on Monday, June 24, 2019. The estimated project size is 7,200 acres on National Forest System lands and private property inholdings. The Black Range Ranger District has a long history of burning in the spring and on Wednesday accomplished 2,900 acres in Unit 3, with a three-day total of ~3,050 acres. Black-line operations have been completed and fire managers will be assessing the need for burning in the interior of the units. All active firing operations should be completed by 7:00 p.m. today.

This project area includes portions of Doagy, Adams, Grogan and Corduroy Canyons located northeast of Beaverhead Work Center. Impacted Forest Roads (FR) include FR 1677, FR 665 and FR 231. New Mexico State Highway 59 and 163 may be impacted by smoke and fire personnel traffic to and from the project.

Objectives for the Indian Peaks Prescribed Burn include:

Fire introduced or maintained across 50-80% of the landscape within the next decade.
Reduce natural and activity fuel accumulations.
Introduce and maintain fire back into a fire-dependent ecosystem.
Duration of smoke production is hard to predict, but high-density smoke should dissipate out within one to two days after active ignitions cease. Smoke was very prevalent in the area around the Beaverhead Administrative Site early this morning but should dissipate by 10 a.m. Smoke will settle in drainages and valley bottoms during the evening and early morning hours. There is the possibility for the communities of Winston, Monticello, Dusty, and the Middle Rio Grande Valley to experience smoke impacts. 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 monitors are set up in Winston, Truth or Consequences; and the Beaverhead Administrative Site. Live tracking can be found at https://app.airsis.com/USFS/UnitMap for smoke monitor units USFS1054, USFS1035, and USFS1036. Smoke-sensitive individuals and those with respiratory or heart disease should take precautionary measures. Air quality information and health protection measures are posted online at the New Mexico Department of Health’s website: https://nmtracking.org/fire and on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6351/.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila