QUEMADO, NM, Nov. 8, 2024 – The Quemado Ranger District plans to use prescribed fire to burn the Baca community slash disposal site beginning as early as Wednesday, November 20. Crews are also preparing to continue burning 800 acres of slash piles adjacent to Luna, New Mexico.
"The Baca community slash disposal site provides a place for landowners to dispose of hazardous fuels that have been cut and removed from private lands in the area, and the forest burns the woody debris periodically. This is a critical service by the Gila National Forest to support Catron County's Firewise program," said Quemado District Ranger Randall Chavez. "Large slash piles near Luna are the result of timber sales and hazardous fuels treatments strategically placed to create a fuel break that protects the community. Now that those mechanical treatments are complete, burning the slash will further reduce fuel loading on the landscape and the risk of high-severity wildfire, while reintroducing a keystone ecological process to fire-dependent ecosystems."
The Baca slash site is expected to be burned first and will take one to two days of ignitions to complete. The Luna area slash piles will be burned through the winter months. It is likely to be a longer-term effort with repeat entries necessary, when conditions allow, to accomplish the full 800 acres. Measurable moisture will be needed before the Luna piles can be burned. The district is postponing the previously reported Sand Flat prescribed fire in the Slaughter Mesa area due to snow and high fuel moisture – inappropriate conditions to meet the objectives of this prescribed fire.
Signs will be posted in areas where prescribed fires are taking place. Smoke will be visible from Quemado Lake during the Baca pit burn, and from Luna and US Highway 180 during the Luna pile burns. Smoke may linger in the valley at night and early in the morning. The Forest Service coordinates prescribed burning with New Mexico Environment Department and follows smoke management guidelines. 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. 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
