News and Articles

Santa Fe Watershed Prescribed Burn October 20 - October 24

This fall, fire managers on the Española Ranger District will be taking advantage of the season's weather to treat hazardous fuels within the Santa Fe Watershed with prescribed fire. Fall provides good prescribed burning conditions—warm days, cool nights and good ventilation for smoke.

Prescribed burning is the managed application of fire to wildland fuels (woody material) under specified conditions, within predetermined boundaries in an effort to reduce hazardous fuels, provide community protection, and restore forest health.

Prior to the burn, fire managers will consider many factors including: fuel moisture levels, weather forecasts, resources availability, and air quality in determining to ignite or not.

The Santa Fe National Forest is committed to protecting sensitive areas from smoke to the greatest extent possible. However, our highest priority is public well-being and safety, and through the reduction of hazardous fuels, which will minimize the threat of devastating wildfires

Quick Info:

• Santa Fe Watershed Prescribed Burn
• 10/20 through 10/24
• Approximately 3 miles East of the City of Santa Fe, South of McClure Reservoir
• During the burning period, 500-acres of hazardous fuels will be treated with hand ignitions
• Smoke from the burn will be visible from Santa Fe, east of Santa Fe, Tesuque, and I-25, and to the East from Glorieta to the Pecos Canyon area

For more information, please call the Española Ranger District at (505) 753-7331 or visit us on-line at www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe.