Prescribed Burns Planned in Otero County
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in conjunction with Holloman Air Force Base, is planning a prescribed burn within Otero County in southern New Mexico February 8. In total, 15-20 BLM firefighters and personnel will monitor the fire. These burns are being conducted to reduce the risk of wildfire spreading to public lands from the Base.
The BLM will concentrate their efforts on the Centennial Bombing Range on McGregor Range. Centennial is approximately 20 miles northeast of Orogrande, N.M., in Otero County. An anticipated 500 acres of grassland will be targeted for hand ignition. Smoke from the fire may be visible from Highway 54.
Prescribed burning is one of the most effective tools to control vegetation in areas where wildfires are no longer appropriate. By reducing the volume of vegetation under the specific prescribed conditions, land managers mimic the natural fire cycle, which greatly reduces the dangers and risks associated with unplanned wildfires.
Prior to and during all prescribed fires, fire managers coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department and follow all air quality regulations. People who are either susceptible to or affected by COVID-19 may have health conditions that also make them vulnerable to smoke exposure. For more information about smoke and protecting your health, please visit https://nmfireinfo.com/smoke-management.
For additional information about the prescribed burn, please contact BLM Las Cruces District Fuels Specialist Ricky Cox at 575-525-4467 or BLM Las Cruces District Fire Management Officer Mark Bernal at 575-525-4305. 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.