Ignitions at Wind Mountain underway
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TAOS, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management is continuing ignitions this week at the Wind Mountain prescribed fire in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument. Approximately 300 acres have been completed out of 735 acres. This project is located on the south side of Cerro del Aire (Wind Mountain), 4 miles northeast of Tres Piedras, N.M.
Ignitions are expected to continue over the next two weeks. This week, the Spanish Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) handcrew will be joining the operation. In order to ignite a prescribed fire, fire managers use predefined weather and vegetative conditions that are monitored closely to create the necessary fire intensities for the project. The burn is overseen by a nationally qualified prescribed fire boss, with assignment of personnel to the ignition of the fire and to holding operations. Smoke may be visible from Highways US 285 and US 64 and surrounding areas for several weeks and will also be closely monitored during the burn in compliance with the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau standards.
The purpose of the project is to improve forest health in ponderosa pine and piñon/juniper woodlands, by reducing flammable accumulations of vegetation and reintroducing fire to a fire-dependent ecosystem. In addition, the reduction of fire hazards helps to protect nearby communities during high fire danger conditions from wildfire.
Updates on this prescribed fire will be posted to www.nmfireinfo.com. Information on smoke, human health, and the HEPA Filter Loan Program can be accessed at https://facnm.org/smoke#smokeanchor5. Learn more about Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico at http://www.facnm.org.
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.