Gila National Forest to continue prescribed burning next week

Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 08 December 2023 08 December 2023

Expecting to burn along New Mexico Highway 35 and 15; Little Walnut Road


MIMBRES, NM, December 8, 2023 – Crews completed ignitions on the Meekins prescribed fire along Forest Road 150 on the Wilderness Ranger District Wednesday and Thursday this week. Crews remain on scene through the weekend to monitor and hold the fire within unit boundaries.

“We had good conditions for burning this week, with low- to moderate-intensity fire observed, as well as ventilation that helped carry smoke up and away,” said Wilderness District Ranger Henry Provencio. “Dead and down slash materials, grasses, down logs, brush, and shrubs were consumed, helping to reduce hazardous fuels and to maintain or restore open meadows and other wildlife habitats.”

Additional ignitions are expected to begin Monday, Dec. 11 on the Gattons Park Wildland Urban Interface Prescribed Fire, a 132-acrebroadcast burn project along the south side of New Mexico Highway 35 near the Gattons Park subdivision. Due to this project’s location along NM Highway 35 and the associated potential for smoke and visibility issues, the forest is coordinating this effort with New Mexico Department of Transportation to close one lane of the highway and provide a pilot car to escort travelers past the burn unit. Travelers should expect short-term traffic delays in the area.

Some crews will remain on the Wilderness Ranger District Tuesday Dec. 12 to hold and monitor the Gattons Park and Meekins prescribed fire units as needed, while others will be diverted to the Silver City Ranger District to begin implementing two prescribed fire projects located adjacent to the Arrastra site along the east side of NM Highway 15. The Continental Divide Trail runs along the northern and eastern boundaries of these 12- and 13-acre units. Trail guards will be posted at either end of the affected segment of trail, and hikers will either be escorted past operations or be asked to utilize a road to divert a short distance around burn activities.

On Wednesday, Dec. 13 a portion of the crews will move to the Gomez North unit located along the east side of Little Walnut Road to begin ignitions on that project. All units will be monitored and held through the week and weekend as needed.

All areas will be signed and posted for public awareness. Smoke is heaviest immediately after ignitions and may be visible along NewMexico Highway 15, along Little Walnut Road, and in Santa Clara. Smoke can be expected to settle into valleys and low-lying areassurrounding these prescribed fire projects, especially at night and in the early morning, normally decreasing as daytime weather prevails. Air quality will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau regulations are being met. Smoke-sensitive individuals and those with respiratory or heart disease should take precautionary measures. Air quality information andhealth protection measures are posted online at https://nmfireinfo.com/smoke- management

The forest has access to an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS or drone) with infrared viewing capability to assist with post-fire heat monitoring over the next couple of weeks. This technology provides one more tool in the toolbox to help safely carry out and conclude the prescribed fires that are necessary to protect at-risk communities and critical infrastructure while restoring forests and watersheds. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov .

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