Prescribed Burns Planned in Lincoln County
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Beginning in the middle of December, and continuing through March 2017, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be conducting prescribed burn operations about 10 miles northeast of Ruidoso and 5 miles southeast of Capitan in Lincoln County. There are five prescribed fire units being planned to take place within the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area:
- The 254 acre Benches unit is located above the Rio Bonito River to the north;
- The 194 acre Red Tank unit and the 523 acre Bull Pasture unit are located West of SR 220 and South of US 380;
- The 232 acre Dairy Pasture unit is located northwest of the junction of SR 220 and Devils Canyon Road; and
- The 490 acre Elk Valley unit is located West of Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.
These operations are dependent upon weather conditions, and will take several days to complete. The purpose of the prescribed burning is to reduce the amount of vegetation available to wildfire, decrease the risk of loss to adjacent property, and improve watershed conditions. Other goals are to increase health, vigor, and competitive ability of the native plant community and to reduce the density of exotics, invader, and introduced species. The burn projects will also improve wildlife habitat and contribute to the available nutrients and water cycles by decreasing the amount decadent vegetation.
Smoke from the burns may be visible from Capitan, Lincoln, Ruidoso and other surrounding communities. Signs will be posted along roadways to inform motorist that may potentially be affected by smoke. Motorists are reminded to use caution by reducing speed and watching for fire personnel and equipment. 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 1-877-695-1663. For more information on this prescribed burn and the BLM fire and fuels program, please call Nathan Curnutt at 575-627-0311.
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.