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BLM plans prescribed burn in Luna County

New Mexico
Las Cruces DO
Media Contact
BLM Office:
Las Cruces District Office

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Beginning the week of March 23, the BLM’s Las Cruces District Office, in cooperation with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, will be burning sacaton draws southeast of Cooks Peak in Luna County, approximately 20 miles east of Deming, N.M. The operation is weather dependent and once operations begin, it should take four days to complete. Up to 5,000 acres of grass and brush will be burned across two units.

BLM firefighters and U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel will conduct and monitor the projects. This prescribed burn is part of a hazardous fuels reduction project. Objectives for the burn are to reduce wildfire risk to nearby private property, rejuvenate decadent grass, reduce tree encroachment into sacaton draws, improve ecosystem health, and enhance wildlife habitat.

Smoke will be visible in the burn areas for up to a week after ignition operations are completed as well as along several major roadways including I-10, I-25, Highway 180, and Highway 26.

Prescribed burning is one of the most effective tools to control vegetation. By reducing the volume of vegetation under prescribed conditions, land managers mimic the natural fire cycle, which greatly reduces the dangers and risks associated with unplanned wildfires.

For additional information about the prescribed burn, please contact U.S. Wildland Fire Service Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist Jon Selby at (575) 525-4325 or acting U.S. Wildland Fire Service Fire Management Officer Jesse Holguin at (575) 525-4456.

Follow the project at NMFireInfo.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nmfireinfo or https://www.facebook.com/BLMLasCruces.

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.