Locations added-Prescribed burns planned for Pinos Altos area likely beginning Sept. 21

See more details about locations  and a mail below.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (BLM) plans to burn vegetation and undergrowth in a broadcast burn across the Pinos Altos area of Grant County next week. The Pinos Altos Broadcast Burn will consist of 205 acres, located about a quarter-mile north of Pinos Altos, adjacent roads to Bear Creek Road and NM Highway 15 to the east.

Smoke may be visible from Highways 15 and 180, and from Pinos Altos, Silver City and the Mimbres Valley. The broadcast burn is planned from September 23rd to 25th.

Once the ignitions have been completed, an engine crew will be assigned to monitor the fire, ensuring everything remains under control until all smoke has dissipated.

Notices will be posted in nearby communities prior to each prescribed burn event. These burns will remove material from thinning projects to help reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem health, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect local communities from wildfire.

The Pinos Altos Broadcast Burn is a cooperative efforts with local communities to provide fuel reduction treatments on BLM lands to reduce wildfire threats to both private and public lands. WFS fire personnel will coordinate with the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire Department, adjacent landowners, range allotment permittees and others prior to igniting the broadcast burn.

More information can be located in the BLM news release found in the link below:

https://www.blm.gov/announcement/us-wildland-fire-service-plans-prescribed-burns-las-cruces-district 

Gila National Forest to begin prescribed fires

Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work

(Silver City, NM, September 18, 2026) — Gila National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this fall, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through spring as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Prescribed slash pile burning planned for the area include:

NM Highway 59 Phase II piles (Sierra County, NM Highway 59, approximately 15 miles northwest of Winston, NM)
• Baca slash pit (Catron County, Forest Road 13D, approximately 13 miles south of Quemado, NM)
• Luna slash piles (Catron County, U.S. Highway 180, Forest Road 901 and Dry Blue Road, approximately 1.5 miles south of Luna, NM)
• Divide Well piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4080A, approximately 10 miles northwest of Mimbres, NM)
• Lincoln Canyon piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4079T, approximately 12 miles northwest of Mimbres, NM)
• Juan Mesa North piles (Grant County, Forest Road 152, approximately 9 miles north of Mimbres, NM)
• Cooney Canyon piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4080T, approximately xx miles northwest of Mimbres, NM)
•Sapillo piles (Grant County, Forest Road 4078T at Sapillo Campground, approximately 14 miles northwest of Mimbres, NM)
• Eckleberger Units 1-2 piles (Catron County, approximately 16 miles southeast of Reserve, NM)
• Doe Gun piles (Catron County, Forest Road 141, approximately 11 miles southeast of Reserve, NM)
• Gilita slash pit (Catron County, Forest Road 713, approximately 22 miles south of Reserve, NM)
• SU Canyon slash pit (Catron County, Forest Road 4092R, approximately 4 miles west of Reserve, NM)
• Little Walnut piles (Grant County, Little Walnut Road, approximately 5 miles north of Silver City, NM)

Additionally, crews will be preparing the following prescribed fire units for broadcast burning:
• Tierra Blanca (Sierra County, Forest Road 522, approximately 1 mile east of Kingston, NM)
• Hinkle Park (Catron County, Forest Road 209, approximately 13 miles south of Luna, NM)
• Pine Cienega (Grant County, Brushy Mountain Road, approximately 8 miles south of Mule Creek, NM)
• Gomez South (Grant County, Little Walnut Road, approximately 5 miles north of Silver City, NM)
8 Little Walnut Y (Grant County, Little Walnut Road, approximately 5 miles north of Silver City, NM)

Those areas may closed to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.