BLM plans prescribed burn activities in Lincoln County

ROSWELL, N.M. – Beginning in August, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to conduct prescribed fire operations in Lincoln County. Specifically, the BLM plans the operations at the Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area. The operations, which will 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.   

The purpose of the prescribed burn is to remove slash piles from previous thinning projects. These operations will help reduce the severity of wildfires and decrease the risk to life and adjacent property. Other goals 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.

“We are doing our part to better serve our neighbors and communities by improving rangeland health and wildlife habitat conditions,” said BLM Fire Management Specialist Dominic Bell. 

Prior to and during all prescribed fires, fire managers coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) 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 https://nmfireinfo.com/smoke-management/. In addition to NMED’s air quality monitoring site at https://aqi.air.env.nm.gov and www.airnow.gov, are 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 Dominic Bell at 575-627-0327. Follow the implementation of this project on NMFireInfo.com, on X @nmfireinfo, or facebook.com/nmfireinfo.