BLM plans prescribed burns near Magdalena, New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – From March 7-13, 2026, the Bureau of Land Management and United States Wildland Fire Service plan to burn up to 40 training plots ranging in size from a tenth to a quarter of an acre within the Magdalena Administrative Prescribed Fire Site in Socorro County. The area is located off the Forest Service 249 Road on BLM managed land, four miles west of Magdalena.
This burn is being conducted as part of a wildland fire investigation training for fire personnel to become certified as wildland fire investigators. A drone will film and monitor fire activity during the training session. Notices will be posted in nearby communities prior to burn implementation. BLM and WFS fire personnel will coordinate with local communities, local fire departments, adjacent landowners, and others prior to starting the burn.
Weather permitting, active ignition will take one to seven days, with some smoke visible in the burn areas for up to a week after ignition operations are completed. Site-specific weather forecasts will be obtained from the National Weather Service prior to ignition. These weather forecasts are important to ensure the burn is within pre-identified parameters and help minimize the fire and smoke risk to the public. Fire personnel will monitor the site for heat and smoke to ensure the perimeter of the unit is secure. Once smoke and heat are no longer present, the prescribed fire will be declared out.
For added public safety, prescribed fire signs will be posted on highways. Motorists should be aware that smoke from the fires could reduce visibility for brief periods of time along Highway 60 and 169. In addition, caution is advised when driving in the areas due to the presence of fire personnel and equipment along roads. The public is asked to not operate personal drones during prescribed burns as to not interfere with operations.
Prior to and during all prescribed fires, fire managers coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department and follow all air quality regulations. Individuals who may have health conditions that make them vulnerable to smoke exposure can get information about smoke and protecting their health on the NM Fire Info website. In addition, NM Environment Department’s air quality monitoring and Airnow.gov are resources for viewing sources of smoke and other factors affecting air quality.
Please contact the 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.