Fire

SFNF Completes Ignitions On Rincon Prescribed Fire

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Fire crews completed ignitions Saturday, Oct. 21, and secured containment lines Sunday, Oct. 22, on the Rincon prescribed fire on the Coyote Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).

The Rincon prescribed fire involved 2,227 acres of hazardous fuels located on French Mesa off Forest Road 8. Sunday, a helicopter flew over the area and fire managers found all containment lines secure. Smoke will remain visible in the area temporarily as vegetation within the perimeter continues to smolder.

The fire will be monitored every day this week and an Incident Commander Read More

Electrical Fire Burns Press Box At North Mesa Ball Fields

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LAPD News:

An electrical fire this afternoon has burned the press box at the North Mesa Ball Fields.

Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) and Los Alamos Fire Department personnel had responded to the scene after the dispatch center received calls from the public around 2:03 p.m. today stating that the dugout at the ball fields was on fire.

Police Cmdr. Daniel Roberts said the fire is now out but the press box is ruined. Read More

Santa Fe National Forest To Implement Rincon Prescribed Fire

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is planning to begin the Rincon prescribed fire beginning today, Oct. 20 and continuing through Sunday, Oct. 22, pending favorable conditions and daily line officer approval.

The Rincon Prescribed Fire is a 2,227-acre unit on the Coyote Ranger District located on French Mesa off Forest Road 8.

Fire management personnel have completed preparation work on the containment lines.

Contingency resources will be on-site and able to respond if needed until the burn is declared secure by the burn boss. Over the long term, crews will Read More

SFNF Cancels North Aztec Springs Prescribed Fire

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Fire management and leadership from the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) decided Wednesday to cancel the North Aztec Springs prescribed fire for the fall of 2023.

After careful evaluation of weather patterns and fuel moisture, fire management personnel determined conditions did not meet the required criteria outlined in the prescribed fire plan.

The North Aztec Springs prescribed fire unit is at the northwest corner of the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed adjacent to the communities of Hyde Park Estates, Paseo Segundo, High Summit, Los Cerros Colorados, Cerro Gordo and Read More

Rep. Leger Fernández Presses Forest Service Chief To Honor Commitment To Use Infrared Drones To Monitor Prescribed Burns In New Mexico

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From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore urging him to honor his commitment to use infrared drones for all prescribed burns in New Mexico.

Rep. Leger Fernández previously secured a commitment from Chief Moore to use infrared drones during prescribed fires after a holdover pile burn unknowingly smoldered for months and helped start the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

Infrared drones allow the Forest Service to safely and effectively monitor prescribed fires and Read More

Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Victims Sue FEMA

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COURT News:

MORA — Two victims of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, represented by Tom Tosdal of the Tosdal Law Firm and Ty Tosdal of Tosdal APC, filed a complaint Oct. 3, 2023 for declaratory relief against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) and its Administrator Deanne Criswell.

The complaint requests a declaration from the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico stating that FEMA’s final rules and regulations unlawfully violate the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Assistance Act by precluding recovery of noneconomic damages for pain and suffering arising Read More

SFNF Prepares For North Aztec Springs Prescribed Fire

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Fire crews are preparing for the 650-acre North Aztec Springs burn on the Espanola Ranger District. The district plans to start the burn sometime after the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which ends Oct. 15.

Crews from the Santa Fe National Forest and the City of Santa Fe are currently working on containment lines in preparation for the burn.

The unit is located at the northwest corner of the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed adjacent to the communities of Hyde Park Estates, Paseo Segundo, High Summit, Los Cerros Colorados, Cerro Gordo and Upper Canyon. The unit is just north of the Read More

SFNF: North Aztec Springs Prescribed Fire Begins Oct. 13

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District Ranger Sandra Imler-Jacquez

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — A community meeting for the North Aztec Springs prescribed fire is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13 at the Office of Emergency Management, Emergency Operations Center, 1600 St. Michael’s Drive in Santa Fe.

Forest Service officials, in cooperation with the Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition, will present and share information on the North Aztec Springs prescribed fire, including an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

This second public meeting came at the request of more than one community group. A prior public meeting Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Fire Management Update

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Approximately one-half inch of rain fell on the Golondrino prescribed fire Monday, which significantly reduced fire activity within the project area.

The Golondrino prescribed fire is located on the Cuba Ranger District east of the community of Llaves and north of Gallina.

On the Black Feather Fire, the Incident Commander recently flew over the fire area and observed minimal activity. The wildfire is 2,198 acres in size and approximately 9 miles south of Gallina. It is near the Peñas Negras Trail in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. All closures for the Black Feather Fire Read More

Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round: Prescribed Fire Smoke Is In The Air – Be Prepared

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Forest Stewards Guild News:

SANTA FE — Due to the cooler weather conditions and higher moisture, fall is an important time for land managers to complete prescribed fire projects.

Prescribed burning is a fire management tool used to reduce fuel loads and decrease fire behavior in the case of a wildfire – among other benefits. Prescribed fire and associated smoke may lower the chances of a much longer smoke event from wildfire. Still, despite careful planning to conduct prescribed fire in ways that minimize harmful smoke exposure, smoke from prescribed burning does have an impact on air quality

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