Reducing fuels to decrease fire risk

GLENWOOD, NM, April 18, 2023 – The Gila National Forest, Glenwood Ranger District is preparing to conduct the Cedar Breaks Prescribed Fire beginning April 23 as fuel and weather conditions allow. The 1,000-acre prescribed fire aims to reduce the threat of wildfire to nearby communities by removing piled fuels and scattered slash resulting from past and ongoing fuels thinning projects. The areas will be signed and posted during prescribed burning activities for public awareness.

“Prescribed burning is key in treating landscapes to decrease the risk of destructive wildfire to the American people and to private and public lands. Fire-adapted forests in the Southwest require fire disturbance on a regular basis to maintain resiliency,” said Sandy Taylor, Acting Glenwood District Ranger. “Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape.”

Smoke may be visible along U.S. Highway 180 and may linger during nighttime and early morning hours but will normally decrease significantly as daytime weather prevails. Smoke will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau regulations are met. Smoke-sensitive individuals and those with respiratory or heart disease should take precautionary measures for their own protection. Air quality and health information are posted online at the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. For more information, contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211.