BLM plans prescribed burn activities in Chaves and Lincoln counties
Organization:
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
ROSWELL, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct prescribed fire operations beginning this week and lasting through May. The agency plans to burn approximately 1,400 acres throughout Chaves and eastern Lincoln counties.
The operations are weather dependent and will take several days to complete. Smoke from the burn may be visible from Roswell, Midway, Dexter, Hagerman, Corona, Arabela and nearby communities. Although smoke should not impact highways, signs will be posted along roadways to inform motorists who may be potentially affected by the smoke. The agency reminds motorists to use caution by reducing speed and watching for fire personnel and equipment.
These prescribed burns are to remove slash from previous thinning projects. These operations will decrease the risk of damage from wildfires and loss to 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.
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. You can also follow the implementation of this project on NMFireInfo.com, on Twitter @nmfireinfo, or facebook.com/nmfireinfo.
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.