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BLM opens two new community slash pits in Catron County

New Mexico
Albuquerque DO
Socorro FO
Media Contact
BLM Office:
Socorro Field Office

Socorro, NM – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently established two new community slash pits near Datil and Pie Town, New Mexico in Catron County. Local communities are encouraged to use these areas to safely dispose of woody debris and brush removed from around their homes to reduce fire risk. Dumping household refuse is not permitted at these slash pits.

The US Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) periodically burns slash piles on BLM managed public lands in an effort to reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem health, improve wildlife habitat and help protect local communities from wildfire. 

The Datil and Pie Town Pits are cooperative efforts with the local communities to provide a place for the disposal of woody debris from private lands. USWFS fire personnel will coordinate with the local communities, fire departments, adjacent landowners, grazing permittees and others prior to starting each slash pit burn.

Details on each slash pit and size are as follows:

  • Datil Pit: 7.3 acres located 16 miles southwest of Datil, NM and a quarter mile north of US Highway 12.
  • Pie Town Pit: 3.8 acres located a half mile south of US Highway 60 within the southwest vicinity of Pie Town, NM.

Please contact BLM Socorro Field Office at 575-835-0412 with any questions about this project. For more information about this and other prescribed burn operations, as well as wildland fire updates, please visit NMFireInfo.com.

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.