Mountainair Ranger District Plans Prescribe Burn

Mountainair Ranger District Plans Prescribe Burn

Mountainair, NM – September 26, 2012. The Cibola National Forest and Grasslands’ Mountainair Ranger District is planning a prescribed burn in the Manzano Mountains. The Wester (A1) Prescribed Burn will encompass approximately 16 acres located on the south side of Forest Road 275 and north of the Thunderbird private property. The goal of this project is to improve watershed and wildlife biodiversity and to protect private property in the event of a wildfire.

Mountainair Ranger District fire staff has been closely monitoring fuel moisture conditions and weather patterns. If conditions remain favorable, the prescribed burn will occur on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Fire management crews will monitor the burn for as long as necessary after ignition to ensure public safety.

Members of the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) Veterans Green Corps will assist Forest Service personnel in the prescribed burn. The Cibola National Forest and Grasslands is partnering with the SCC to provide veterans with land management and wildland firefighting training experience.

During the prescribed burn, NFS Roads 275 and 422 will have temporary road signs warning about smoke and activity on the roads and some light smoke may observed in the area. Additional fire vehicles will be in the area patrolling and monitoring the roads. Please drive carefully when on these roads, as visibility might be lowered due to smoke.

If you have questions regarding the planned prescribed burn or any other Mountainair Ranger District questions, please call 505.847.2990 or e-mail Adrian Padilla at adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us or Arlene Perea at atperea@fs.fed.us.

East Thunderbird Prescribe Burn, Planned for Mid-October

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Thunderbird Prescribe Burn

Planned for Mid-October

Mountainair, NM – October 7, 2011:  Fire officials on the Mountainair Ranger District have been monitoring fuel moisture conditions. With the current moisture levels they plan to complete the East Thunderbird Prescribed Burn in the Manzano Mountains within the next few weeks, possibly as early as next week.

The burn will be on National Forest lands in a forest area locally known as the Thunderbird area.  This area was thinned within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management area.  The portion to be burned is located on the south side of Forest Road #275 and west of the Thunderbird Private Property.  District Fire personnel are watching weather patterns closely and hope to re-enter this area sometime during the next week to two weeks to finish burning approximately 75 acres.  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.

Fall Prescribed Burning To Begin on the Mountainair Ranger District

Mountainair, NM – October 25, 2010: As fall colors come to an end and temperatures drop, it’s time for the Mountainair Ranger District to continue its prescribed burning program. According to District Fire Management Officer, Mark Bernal, the district currently has two burns planned.

Currently there are 2 burns planned on the district. The first burn is the East Thunderbird Prescribed Burn. The East Thunderbird burn began last winter, but due to early winter precipitation was not completed. The fall conditions have given us the opportunity to reenter the 190 acre area and attempt to complete the 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, along both sides of Forest Road #275. There are no set dates for the burn but district fire personnel will be watching weather patterns closely during the next few weeks to determine when it is safe and advantageous to conduct this burn. The burn will be conducted only if and when weather patterns and available fire personnel are conducive to burning.

The second burn planned is the Barranco Prescribed Burn. This burn is also within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management area and is located South of Forest Road #275. This burn will also be conducted as weather conditions and personnel allow.

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.