Jungle Prescribed Burn - Planned for Mid-November

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know we are planning on completing the Jungle Prescribed Burn tomorrow weather permitting.  If you have any questions please give the office a call Thank you

Jungle Prescribe Burn

Planned for Mid-November

     Mountainair, NM – November 15, 2011: Mountainair Ranger District Fire Officials are planning on continuing their Prescribed Burn program. Fire Officials have been monitoring weather conditions and fuel moisture conditions. With the current moisture levels they plan to complete the Jungle Prescribed Burn in the Manzano Mountains this week.
     The burn will be on National Forest lands located East of Forest Road #422, North of Forest Road #275 and west of the Forest Road #522. District Fire personnel are watching weather patterns closely and hope to accomplish burning approximately 186 acres some time during the next week to two weeks. The purpose of the burn is to improve watershed and wildlife biodiversity as well as to reduce current fuel loadings and lessen the threat of wildfire to private property. The burn will be conducted only if fire personnel are available and weather patterns are conducive to burning.

     If you have questions regarding the planned prescribed burn or any other Mountainair Ranger District questions, please call 505-847-2990 or email Adrian Padilla at adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us or Arlene Perea at atperea@fs.fed.us.

-end-

Adrian Padilla
Fire Prevention Tech
Mountainair Ranger District
Cibola National Forest
Ph: 505-847-2990
Fx: 505-847-2238
E-mail: adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us

Track Fire at Raton Pass Forces I-25 Closure – 6/12/2011 – 2:45 pm « NM Fire Info

Track Fire at Raton Pass Forces I-25 Closure – 6/12/2011 – 2:45 pm « NM Fire Info

New Mexico State Forestry and other local agencies are responding to a fire in the area of Raton Pass, west of Interstate 25.


The Track Fire is approximately 200 acres and is actively torching and making runs through heavy vegetation. Some spotting to the  . . .

Track Fire at Raton Pass Forces I-25 Closure – 6/12/2011 – 2:45 pm « NM Fire Info

Fire Information Site

It's come to my attention that many people are not aware of the Inciweb site. This is a great site that can be used to get fire information for large fires. Only significant fires larger than 100 acres are usually entered in this site. I have received many questions regarding the Wallow Fire in Arizona. This site can probably give you better information than I can. It has maps and photos as well as a whole lot of other incident information. The link is:  http://www.inciweb.org/


Of course I just checked the link and the site seems to be up and down but hopefully it will be up and running again shortly because it's a very informative site. I'm sure the issue is that it is getting lots of hits with the current fire activity in the Southwest. It still has some glitches (obviously) but is overall pretty good.

Also, just a reminder, we are EXTREMELY DRY! You should not be conducting any activities outdoors that could create a spark. Today is a RED FLAG DAY. This basically means very hot, very dry and very windy. PLEASE BE CAREFUL! For any questions regarding restrictions on private property, see http://www.nmforestry.com/.

Thanks - Arlene

Arlene T. Perea
Recreation Tech.
Mountainair Ranger District
P.O. Box 69
Mountainair, NM 87036
(w) 505-847-2990
(f) 505-847-2238

Fire At Punta de Agua

Just got a text that there is a fire at Punta de Agua on Federal lands in between where the last two fires burned.  Keep our firefighers in your prayers as well as the families that will be affected by this fire.

Smoke Wrapping Around the Manzano Mountains

We are getting lots of calls in the office as well as Albuquerque Dispatch. As near as we can tell, the smoke everyone is experiencing seems to be smoke from both the Gila as well as the Horseshoe Fire in AZ that is drifting then wrapping around the Manzano's. This morning most of it was drifting south of Mountainair. If anyone knows that there is an actual fire, please contact the appropriate agencies or 911, but again, we have not located any fires on our district and believe it to be drifting from the west.

Thanks - Arlene

Arlene T. Perea
Recreation Tech.
Mountainair Ranger District
P.O. Box 69
Mountainair, NM 87036
(w) 505-847-2990
(f) 505-847-2238

Red Flag Warnings and Recommendations

I thought this information was important enough to post alone and a second time.  Please be careful with fire - we don't want to see any more of our family, friends, and neighbors burned out!

Red Flag Warnings and Recommendations

A Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch is issued by the National Weather Service for windy or dry weather that could promote large wildfires should an ignition occur. Typically fire response agencies increase fire prevention and suppression staffing levels during these periods. These warnings usually last for just a few days until the conditions change or subside. A Red Flag Warning does not necessarily mean that the Forest is closed to the public.

The factors that create the issuance of a red flag warning are sustained winds 15 mph or greater and relative humidity less than or equal to 25%. These factors greatly increase the possibility of large wildfires.

Even though fire restrictions might not be in place it is recommended that all campfires and open flames are extinguished until the red flag conditions are lifted and smoking be inside vehicles or buildings.

For further information on fire danger, contact Adrian Padilla or Arlene Perea at 505-847-2990 or email adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us or atperea@fs.fed.us.

Fire within the Manzano Land Grant Raises Awareness

Mountainair Ranger District fire personnel along with several volunteer fire departments including Torreon, McIntosh, Estancia, Moriarty and Bernalillo County responded to a structure and brush fire yesterday within the Manzano Land Grant. The fire burned approximately 3-5 acres along with a couple of structures in the Manzano creek drainage area.

This is a good reminder that conditions out on the forest and beyond continue to be very dry. Fire danger indices on the Mountainair Ranger District have now hit the HIGH level and signs were changed yesterday morning to indicate this change. Everyone is encouraged to take EXTRA precautions with any outdoor fires or burning during this very dry time. Please remember that all burning on state land within Torrance County must be cleared through Torrance County Dispatch prior to any ignitions. You may call 505-384-2706 (non-emergency line) to find out what burning restrictions may be in place for the day. Persons caught illegally burning could face anything from a warning to a fine ranging from $50 to reimbursement for the cost to fight the fire.

Also, please note that we are under a RED FLAG WARNING today. Please read the following note from Karen Takai regarding these conditions...

During RED FLAG WARNING we recommend the following:

     No Campfires, No Smoking Outside, No Welding, No Brush Burning


Red Flag Warnings and Recommendations

A Red Flag Warning/Fire Weather Watch is issued by the National Weather Service for windy or dry weather that could promote large wildfires should an ignition occur. Typically fire response agencies increase fire prevention and suppression staffing levels during these periods. These warnings usually last for just a few days until the conditions change or subside. A Red Flag Warning does not necessarily mean that the Forest is closed to the public.

The factors that create the issuance of a red flag warning are sustained winds 15 mph or greater and relative humidity less than or equal to 25%. These factors greatly increase the possibility of large wildfires.

Even though fire restrictions might not be in place it is recommended that all campfires and open flames are extinguished until the red flag conditions are lifted and smoking be inside vehicles or buildings.

For further information on fire danger, contact Adrian Padilla or Arlene Perea at 505-847-2990 or email adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us or atperea@fs.fed.us .


Adrian Padilla
Fire Prevention Tech
Mountainair Ranger District
Cibola National Forest
Ph: 505-847-2990
Fx: 505-847-2238
E-mail: adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us

Prescribed Burning To Continue on the Mountainair Ranger District

Mountainair, NM – November 30, 2010:   With the shot of precipitation received on the Manzano’s this week, the Mountainair Ranger District will be planning to continue the East Thunderbird Prescribed Burn.


The burn will be in a forest area locally known as the Thunderbird area. This area was thinned within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management area. The remaining portion to be burned is located on the south side of Forest Road #275. District Fire personnel are watching weather patterns closely and hope to re-enter this area the week of December 6-11 to finish burning approximately 70 acres. The burn will be conducted only if and when weather patterns and available fire personnel are conducive to burning and all fire management objectives can be met.


If you have questions regarding the planned prescribed burn or any other Mountainair Ranger District questions, please call 505-847-2990 or email Adrian Padilla at adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us or Arlene Perea at atperea@fs.fed.us



###END###

Adrian Padilla - New Fire Prevention Technician, Mountainiar Ranger District

Fire Information Folks,

I'd like to take a moment to introduce Adrian Padilla, new Fire Prevention Technician on the Mountainair Ranger District. Adrian has been on the Mountainair Ranger District previously as Engine Operator. He has returned to us from Sandia and will be taking on the Prevention position. With that said, you will start receiving emails (starting today) from Adrian regarding any prescribed burning to be done on the district. I will continue to send out information as necessary, but you will be seeing more prescribed fire information from him. Adrian will also be taking on many of the prevention programs such as defensible space and Smokey programs. Please feel free to contact him or I regarding prescribed or wildfire information.

Thanks - Arlene T. Perea, Recreation Tech.
Mountainair Ranger District
P.O. Box 69
Mountainair, NM 87036
(O) 505-847-2990     (F) 505-847-2238
!!! THANKS FOR SERVING ADRIAN AND CONGRATULATIONS !!!