Silver City Ranger District preparing for slash pile burning
SILVER CITY, NM, Dec. 6, 2024 – The Gila National Forest, Silver City Ranger District is assessing conditions in preparation for burning slash piles in the Little Walnut, Fort Bayard, and Pinos Altos areas this fall and winter. Slash piles are the result of past hazardous fuels reduction adjacent to communities and infrastructure at risk. Burning the slash completes the treatment by removing the activity fuels from the forest. These projects will be implemented between now and the end of February, when firefighting resources are available and weather and fuels conditions promote the desired fire behavior.
"The Silver City Ranger District is working hard to reduce wildfire risk to private property by breaking up the vertical and horizontal continuity of adjacent fuels. Slash generated from these efforts needs to be burned to complete the treatment and remove the fuels from the forest," said Silver City District Ranger Elizabeth Toney. "Prescribed fire is one of the most effective and efficient tools available for reducing fire impacts to local communities."
The Pinos Altos WUI project area includes the Gomez North unit in the Little Walnut area and Burn Blocks 1 and 6 in the Bear Creek Drainage north of Pinos Altos, adjacent to the Continental Divide Trail. Additional slash piles may be burned within the Fort Bayard administrative site. In total, 195 acres are planned for prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuels loading and protect adjacent communities. The Gomez North unit received a mastication treatment to reduce fuel loading in advance of prescribed burning.
Smoke production from the prescribed fires is expected to be minimal and localized and may persist for several days following completion of ignitions. It may be visible from Little Walnut Road, New Mexico Highway 15 in the vicinity of Pinos Altos, and the communities of Santa Clara and Silver City. Smoke will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department - Air Quality Bureau's regulations are met. Smoke-sensitive individuals and those with respiratory or heart-disease should take precautionary measures. Air quality information and health protection measures are available online at: NM Fire Info | Smoke Management. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or
