News and Articles
01/23/2024
Smoke Alert: Prescribed Burn in Aztec Springs Area
Santa Fe, NM-The Forest Stewards Guild and The Nature Conservancy are conducting a wildfire mitigation project through a prescribed burn in the Aztec Springs area. Residents in the upper Canyon Road and Hyde Park Road areas may experience visible smoke in the Santa Fe vicinity on January 22nd and 23rd, 2024.
The prescribed burn, part of an ongoing initiative, commenced on Monday, January 15, 2024, will continue throughout the winter as weather conditions permit. The project focuses on utilizing snowpack conditions to conduct a prescribed pile burn on up to 120 acres of Nature Conservancy land situated east of Santa Fe, NM, in the Aztec Springs Drainage, north of the Randall Davey Audubon Center.
Controlled burn piles are a crucial element of this effort, contributing to the maintenance of a healthy and sustainable forest ecosystem. While the smoke may be visible, it is important to note that this is a planned and controlled activity aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires and enhancing overall forest health.
Key Information:
Date: Smoke visibility estimated January 22 and 23, 2024
Affected Areas: Upper Canyon Road, Hyde Park Road, and surrounding Santa Fe area
Project Initiators: The Forest Stewards Guild and The Nature Conservancy
Residents are advised not to call 911 in response to the visible smoke, as it is part of the planned wildfire mitigation project. The cooperation of the community is crucial in ensuring the success of these efforts towards maintaining a safe and sustainable environment. Lingering smoke may be present for up to two days after ignitions are complete.
Smoke-sensitive individuals and/or individuals with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the NMDOH website at:
https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html
For more information on this project, please contact Eytan Krasilovsky of the Forest Stewards Guild at (505) 470-0185, eytan@forestguild.org.
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