SILVER CITY, N.M. -- The Gila National Forest Wilderness Ranger District plans district-wide burns, which include broadcast and pile burns, weather and fire conditions permitting.
Prescribed broadcast burning in the area of Terry Canyon, west of FSR 150, also known as North Star or Wall Lake Road and between FSR 4079R and 4201M. This burn may take place between late October and mid-December 2014. The 420 acre burn is partially funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to improve wildlife habitat.
With the onset of winter approaching, the district is also preparing to burn piles at various locations in the Wildland-Urban-Interface (WUI). These areas will be signed and posted for public awareness. Burn piles will be ongoing throughout the winter as conditions are conducive to burning. The objectives of these burns are to reduce wildfire threat by removing fuels created from past and ongoing thinning projects.
The pile burns will be conducted at the following locations:
- Near State Highway 35, and Elkhorn Road, behind Desert West Auction
- On both sides of Powerhorn Ridge Road (FSR 151)
- On the north side of McKnight Road (FSR 152)
- Wilderness Ranger District Administrative Site on State Highway 35
- Near the Gila National Monument Visitors Center
Smoke will be visible in the areas where the burns are being conducted and may linger at night and early morning, but normally decreases significantly as daytime weather prevails.
Further information may be obtained by contacting the Wilderness Ranger District at (575) 536-2250.