New Mexico Fire Information sent a press release Sept. 25 to identify and provide details about prescribed burns that will affect the East Mountains.
The U.S. Forest Service plans to start prescribed burns as early as Oct. 14 but the start dates can change due to weather conditions or administrator approval. There are no specific dates provided for the prescribed burns in the East Mountains.
According to the release, prescribed fires are used to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire by removing hazardous fuels, return nutrients to the soil and improve forest health. Fuels specialists write prescribed burn plans that identify — or prescribe — the best conditions under which trees and other plants will burn to get the best results safely. Among other factors, burn plans consider temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, smoke dispersal, monitoring and resource availability.
The Mountainair Ranger District has several prescribed burns planned.
The Capilla Rx Fire: 570 acres of broadcast burning on the Capilla Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 10 miles northwest of Mountainair. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano or the Estancia Valley.
The Espinosa Rx Fire: 2,012 acres of broadcast burning on the Espinosa-Barranco Wildlife Improvement Project in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 8 miles northwest of Mountainair. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano or the Estancia Valley.
The Red Canyon Campground Piles Rx Fire:15 acres of piles in the Hazard Tree Mitigation Project located adjacent to Upper Red canyon Campground in the Manzano Mountains, approximately 12 miles northwest of Mountainair. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano or the Estancia Valley.
The Pueblo Colorado Piles Rx Fire: 77 acres of piles in the Coordinated Resource Management Project in the Gallinas Mountains in Torrance County, southeast of Willard and 15 miles northwest of Corona. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Willard, Cedarvale, Corona or within the Estancia Valley.
The Sandia Ranger District has plans for four prescribed burns.
The Tablazon Rx Fire: 207 acres of broadcast burning in the Tablazon Canyon Area, in the Manzanita Mountains. Tablazon is located south of Highway 333, south of Lower Pine trailhead and east of FSRD 462. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty.
The David Canyon Rx Fire: 551 acres of broadcast burning in the David Canyon area, in the Manzanita Mountains. David Canyon is located west of Highway 337 and west of the Mars Court trailhead. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty.
The Sulphur Piles Rx Fire: 34 acres of piles within the Sulphur unit of the Sandia Piles Rx plan. The pile burn area is in the Sandia east mountains, north of I-40, west of N.M. 14 and south of N.M. 536. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Albuquerque, Tijeras, Edgewood and Moriarty.
The Cedro Piles Rx Fire: 18 acres of piles within the Cedro unit of the Sandia Piles Rx plan. The pile burn area is in the Manzanita Mountains. Cedro is located south FSRD 462, east of Highway 337.Those with questions or concerns regarding the prescribed burns can contact the Mountainair Ranger District Office at 505-847-2990, the Sandia Ranger District Office at 505-281-3304, or the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor Office at 505-346-3900.