Carson National Forest fuels planners are preparing to possibly implement a few prescribed fire projects this spring to increase forest health and reduce the threat of fire to communities and watersheds. The exact timing of each project, or the decision to postpone to a later season, depends on weather, site conditions and available personnel. “This […]

Carson National Forest fire crews, with the support of the Ojo Sarco Volunteer and Red River fire departments, completed this season’s pile burning for the Rio Trampas Project yesterday. Piles made from approximately 180 acres of thinning in three locations (map) were treated with prescribed fire. “I really want to thank the community for their […]

Partnerships Critical to Project’s Success With snow on the ground and more forecasted later this week, fire crews are preparing to potentially begin pile burning near the High Road to Taos (Highway 76) as early as Wednesday, Jan. 31. Forest Service personnel will be supported by partners, including the Ojo Sarco Volunteer Fire Department, Taos […]

Carson National Forest fire crews are tentatively planning to begin pile burning north of Canjilon, N.M, as early as January 23. The Fuertes Piles, named after the nearby Cañada Fuertes, were made from 102 acres of thinning on Forest Service land near private land.  Work will occur off Forest Road 124 near the intersection with […]

Fire crews completed ignitions on most of the Ojo Sarco Unit today, leaving piles from just 12 acres of thinning untouched. The remaining piles are in a gully with no snow around them. Crews will continue patrolling and holding on Friday but will not conduct ignitions due to forecasted winds. The unit is completely surrounded […]

Fire crews are planning to potentially begin pile burning along Highway 76 and just south of Ojo Sarco, N.M. (map), as early as Thursday, Dec. 7. The piles were created from 137 acres of thinning.  The work is part of the Green Fuelwood Areas Project, which aims to restore forest health and resiliency next to […]

And an Update to Pile Burning Near San Cristobal and Along Hwy. 150  Fire crews are planning to potentially begin pile burning southeast of Hopewell Lake as early as Tuesday, Dec. 5. Up to 550 acres may be treated on the Willow Pile Unit, where many piles were burned last winter. Smoke may be visible […]

Fire crews are planning to potentially begin pile burning along and near Highway 150 from Valdez, N.M., to the Taos Ski Valley area as early as Friday, Dec. 1. Piles near San Cristobal, N.M., are also under consideration.  Both areas are within the wildland urban interface, where human development intermingles with the forest.  “To protect […]

With the arrival of winter weather, Carson National Forest fire crews are preparing to continue prescribed fire activities, this time in the form of pile burning. The exact timing of each project will depend on weather, site conditions and available personnel.  Piles were created from thinning projects in nearly a dozen locations, including near Canjilon, […]

Despite recent rain and snowfall over the prescribed fire in Alamosa Unit 1, fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor it until fire managers call it out. Crews have been on site patrolling and monitoring the fire since Wednesday, Nov. 15, when the last update was published. Along with some clean-up ignitions the following day, the […]

Fire crews today completed an additional 500 acres of treatment on Alamosa Unit 1, wrapping up ignitions on the project for the time being. Weather and conditions, particularly ventilation of on-site smoke, continue to fluctuate, often in a manner not conducive to prescribed fire.  Fire managers will continue to look for opportunities to finish treating […]

Due to a change in weather and conditions, including improved ventilation, fire crews are planning to pivot from only patrolling and monitoring to additionally conducting ignitions on Alamosa Unit 1. If a test fire is successful, up to 500 acres may be treated with prescribed fire later today. Check the Fire and Smoke Map to check local […]

Fire crews are continuing to work two prescribed fires across Carson National Forest this week. Crew members are preparing for potential ignitions on Thursday in Alamosa Unit 1 while they wind down work on the McCrystal Rock Unit in Valle Vidal. Alamosa Unit 1 (Rio Arriba County) InciWeb  Fire crews are potentially planning to continue ignitions […]

Fire crews continued work on two prescribed fire units this weekend, accomplishing 500 acres of treatment on one and postponing the other.  Alamosa Unit 1 (Rio Arriba County) InciWeb  Crews treated 500 acres, completing blackline around the 4,500-acre unit today. Blackining is pre-burning fuels along the control line, in this case roads, before interior areas are […]

Fire crews are back on scene of both prescribed fire projects currently in progress on the Carson National Forest. Here’s the latest. ALAMOSA UNIT 1 (RIO ARRIBA COUNTY) With an improved ventilation rate, fire crews are moving forward with ignitions on up to 500 acres. They plan to complete blackline around the entire 4,500-acre unit […]

It was a quiet day on the prescribed fire front. Here’s the latest on our two current projects. ALAMOSA UNIT 1 (RIO ARRIBA COUNTY) Fire crews on Saturday patrolled and monitored as the fire smoldered, crept and backed. Ignitions did not move forward due to weather and ventilation. They will return Sunday for the same […]

Efforts to improve and maintain forest health continue this weekend. Here’s the latest. ALAMOSA UNIT 1 (RIO ARRIBA COUNTY) Fire crews will return Saturday to look for opportunities with weather and on-site conditions to continue treating the 4,500-acre prescribed fire unit north of El Rito. Crews did not move forward with ignitions today due to […]

Fire crews continued progress on the Alamosa Unit 1 Prescribed Fire today with 500 acres treated. Approximately 2,100 acres have been accomplished to date.  Crew members used drip torches to continue blacklining along the boundaries of the 4,500-acre unit. Blackining is pre-burning fuels along the control line, in this case roads, before interior areas are […]

Fire crews made significant progress on their first day of ignitions on the Alamosa Unit 1 Prescribed Fire. Approximately 1,600 acres within the 4,500-acre unit were treated.  Crew members used drip torches to put fire on the forest floor around the unit’s northeastern boundary before interior sections were ignited by helicopter. Low to moderate-intensity fire […]

After meeting with meteorologists to discuss weather and conditions today, fire managers are tentatively planning the following prescribed fire operations this week: Fire managers will continue to consult with meteorologists for both prescribed fires and postpone ignitions if weather conditions adversely change. Public information officers will post updates for both projects to InciWeb (Alamosa, McCrystal), […]