Gila National Forest continues prescribed fire progress

Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 12 January 2024 12 January 2024

Silver City and Quemado ranger districts expecting to implement prescribed fire projects next week

SILVER CITY, NM, January 12, 2024 – Recent and forecast snowy weather is a good indicator that the Gila National Forest will be continuing to burn slash piles at numerous locations across the forest as weather and fuels conditions and resource availability allow.

“Last year, the Gila accomplished more than 153,000 acres of fuels reduction through a combination of prescribed fire, mechanical treatments, and wildfire ignitions managed for resource outcomes. Overall, the Gila produced 37% of the fuels reduction accomplishments reported by the entire Southwestern Region in 2023,” said Gila Forest Supervisor Camille Howes. “The Gila has a long history of leadership in prescribed fire and wildfire use and we will continue to lead now and in the future.”

Conditions appear favorable for the Silver City Ranger District to burn slash piles early next week in the Little Cherry Creek area near the east end of Forest Road 855 (Little Cherry Creek Road). The slash piles are located about 2 miles north of Pinos Altos and 3 miles east of New Mexico Highway 15 along the western edge of a private land boundary. Additionally, Baca Slash Pit, located in Catron County, approximately 3 miles northeast of Quemado Lake on Forest Road 13D may also be burned early next week.

The Black Range Ranger District is planning to conduct several prescribed fire projects this spring as conditions allow, including 3,250 acres of a broadcast burn near the Continental Divide Trail and Highway 59 intersection, as well as slash piles at Straight Gulch, Kingston, Forest Road 150 near Kemp Mesa, and at the Beaverhead administrative site.

The following prescribed fire projects were previously announced but have not yet been completed. They may proceed over the coming weeks and months as conditions allow:

Reserve Slash Pit, located in Catron County between Reserve, New Mexico and Rancho Grande subdivision, west of New Mexico Highway 12 on National Forest System Road 578.Luna area slash piles, located in Catron county on 800 acres of Gila National Forest surrounding the community of Luna. These piles are the result of timber sales and fuel break construction.Pine Cienega slash piles are located in Grant County, off Brushy Mountain (Grant County Road 5-12), 23 miles southwest of Glenwood, NM. About 50 acres of pile burning has been completed so far this year, out of 300 acres of slash piles.Pueblo Park Campground slash piles are located in Catron County on Pueblo Park Road (Catron County Road 13) about 20 miles north of Glenwood, NM.Pinos Altos Wildland Urban Interface broadcast burn project and the Arrastra unit are located in Grant County north of Pinos Altos, east and west of New Mexico Highway 15. This project will need drier conditions that allow fire to carry across the planned prescribed fire unit.Gomez Peak broadcast burn units located in Grant County north of Gomez Peak in Silver City. This project will need drier conditions that allow fire to carry across the planned prescribed fire unit.

Prescribed fire is key in treating landscapes to reduce the risk of destructive wildfire to the American people and to the public lands entrusted to Forest Service care. Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on a regular basis to increase the resiliency of fire-adapted forests.

Smoke and firefighter activity will be visible to the public and may impact forest road access. If this occurs, road guards will be in place. Smoke may linger in the valley at night and early in the morning. Signs will be posted in areas where prescribed fires are taking place. The Forest Service coordinates prescribed burning with New Mexico Environment Department and follows smoke management guidelines. Air quality information and health protection measures are posted online at the New Mexico Fire Information website: NM Fire Info | Smoke Management. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov .

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