LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District is preparing to strategically implement a150-acre prescribed burn project from Sept. 22 through Oct. 31 to reduce hazardous fuels in the vicinity of the community of Pinos Altos in Grant County, pending suitable conditions. The exact date of ignition will depend on weather and fuels conditions as well as firefighter resource availability.
BLM firefighters and personnel will conduct and monitor the projects. This prescribed burn is part of several projects being conducted in the area to decrease the likelihood of negative wildfire impacts to wildlife habitat, recreation areas and nearby private property. In 2022, during the Rico Fire, similar projects facilitated efforts to control the fire and protect adjacent property.
Prescribed burning, sometimes referred to as "controlled burning," involves the deliberate application of fire under carefully pre-planned conditions to specific areas of land. This strategic reduction of vegetative fuel loads significantly lowers the potential for uncontrolled, high-intensity wildfires. When left unchecked, the accumulation of vegetation, fallen branches, and dense undergrowth creates conditions that fuel catastrophic wildfires, particularly during the dry and windy seasons prevalent in New Mexico.
By methodically reducing this buildup, prescribed burns also create "firebreaks" or disrupt the spread of wildfire, enhancing the ability of firefighters to protect residential and commercial properties, as well as vital infrastructure. The growing frequency of extreme weather events, coupled with prolonged periods of drought, has intensified the vulnerability of New Mexico's forests and grasslands. Land management agencies, recognizing these evolving risks, are increasingly integrating prescribed fire into their long-term planning efforts, protecting not just individual communities but the wider landscape.
It is crucial for the public, particularly individuals sensitive to smoke and those engaging in outdoor recreation on public lands, to stay informed about the timing and location of prescribed fires. Awareness of these activities ensures safety and minimizes disruptions while supporting essential fire management and ecological restoration efforts.
Smoke may be visible from the communities of Pinos Altos, Silver City, Lake Roberts, Mimbres, and San Lorenzo, Bayard, and Hurley. Smoke impacts are expected to New Mexico Highway 15 and 35, the Mimbres and Sapillo drainages, and the communities off Mimbres and Pinos Altos.
Smoke will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department Air Quality Bureau's regulations are met. Individuals who are smoke-sensitive and those with respiratory or heart disease should take precautionary measures. Air quality information and health protection measures recommended by New Mexico Department of Health are posted online at NMFireInfo.com.
For additional information about the prescribed burn, please contact BLM Las Cruces District Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist Jon Selby at 575-525-4325 or BLM Las Cruces District Fire Management Officer Mark Bernal at (575) 525-4305.
Follow www.NMFireInfo.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nmfireinfo as well as the Las Cruces District Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BLMLasCruces for more information.
