Prescribed Burn Continues in McKinley County
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct a 300 acre burn within the Ignacio Chavez and Chamisa Wilderness Study Areas (Mesa Chivato) during the month of February. Due to weather constraints, the BLM was unable to conduct the burn, originally scheduled to take place between November 2016 and January 2017. The area is comprised of ponderosa pine, piñon, and juniper, and is west of Highway 550, located approximately 15 miles southwest of San Luis, New Mexico. During the burn, for safety reasons, the gate to the Ignacio Chavez Special Management Area will be closed.
Historic uses and active fire suppression have interrupted the natural fire regime in this fire dependent ecosystem. This has resulted in hazardous fuel accumulations and increased stand densities, which contribute to the decline of wildlife habitat and the potential of catastrophic wildfire.
For additional information about this prescribed burn, please contact Fire Management Officer Todd Richards at 505-761-8769 or Supervisory Range Technician Pete Rivera at 505-761-8943.
The BLM manages more than 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.