BLM Taos Field Office plans prescribed burn near Tres Piedras
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TAOS, N.M, – Beginning Oct. 20, the Bureau of Land Management will be conducting a 1,750-acre prescribed burn in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument on Cerro Montoso, located 12 miles northeast of Tres Piedras, N.M.
This operation is weather dependent and will take approximately 30 days to complete, with the end date expected to be Nov. 30. Smoke from the burn may be visible to surrounding communities, including U.S. Highways 285 and 64. People who are either susceptible to or affected by COVID-19 may have health conditions that also make them vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure. For more information about smoke and COVID-19, please visit https://www.nifc.gov/PIO_bb/pio_documents/Smoke_COVID19_FS_FactSheet.pdf.
Hunters are reminded to use caution by reducing speed and watching for fire personnel and equipment. Hunters should stay out of the burn area until ignition operations are complete. The public should refrain from camping within the burn unit during this time. A map is attached to show the location of the burn unit.
The purpose of the project is to improve forest health in piñon/juniper, sagebrush and grasslands by reducing flammable accumulations of vegetation and reintroducing fire to a fire-dependent ecosystem.
For further information or concerns, please contact BLM Taos Field Office Fire Management Officer Kyle Sahd at (575) 770-1617. You can also follow the implementation of this project on NMFireInfo.com, on Twitter @nmfireinfo, or on 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.