BLM plans prescribed fire activities in Lincoln County
ROSWELL, N.M. – Beginning in August, the Bureau of Land Management plans to conduct prescribed fire operations in Lincoln County at the Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area. The operations may continue through late September, are weather dependent and will take several days to complete.
Smoke from the burn may be visible from Ruidoso, Capitan, Lincoln and nearby communities. Although smoke should not impact highways, personnel will post signs along roadways to inform motorists about the potential for smoke. The agency reminds motorists to use caution by reducing speed and watching for fire personnel and equipment.
A primary purpose of the prescribed burn is to remove slash piles from previous thinning projects, thereby reducing the fuel available to a wildfire. The office plans to burn in when grasses are green, and fire consumes the piles without spreading. Fire personnel typically do not prefer winter pile burns at Fort Stanton because any snow will dry up quickly, exposing grasses to potential heat from recently lit piles.
Earlier this year, during the Camp Fire at Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Conservation Area, prior burn projects facilitated the efforts of firefighters to control the fire and decreased risk to adjacent property.
The goals of this operation are to improve watershed and habitat conditions, increase the health, vigor, and competitive ability of the native plant community, and reduce the threat of non-native and native invasive plant species. In addition, the operations will serve our neighbors and communities by improving rangeland health and wildlife habitat conditions.
The BLM will ensure that the fire will not spread beyond the planned area by conducting a test fire, which the burn plan requires. The burn boss will assess the results of the test burn and, if conditions are not favorable, the burn boss will postpone the burn. A fire engine and an all-terrain vehicle with a water pump will be on site. Fire officials will determine the amount and location of contingency resources based on predicted and observed fire behavior. In addition to on-site observations, the burn boss uses fire behavior modeling to make this determination.
Prior to and during all prescribed fires, fire managers coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department and follow air quality regulations. Those who may have health conditions that make them vulnerable to smoke exposure can get information about smoke and protecting their health at New Mexico Fire Information. In addition to NMED’s air quality monitoring site and AirNow, you will find resources for viewing sources of smoke and other factors affecting air quality.
The BLM encourages public land users to continue to be careful with fire. To report a wildfire on public land, please call Alamogordo Interagency Dispatch at 877-695-1663. For more information on this prescribed burn and the BLM fire and hazardous fuels reduction program, please contact BLM Pecos District Fire Management Specialist Dominic Bell at 575-627-0327. You can also follow the implementation of this project on New Mexico Fire Information or New Mexico Fire Information Facebook.
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.