Prescribed Fire Extended for McKinley and Sandoval Counties

Organization:

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Rio Puerco Field Office

Media Contact:

Due to recent moisture making roads impassable, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rio Puerco Field Office was not able to conduct prescribed burn operations on approximately 300 acres within the Ignacio Chavez and Chamisa Wilderness Study Areas.  Staff will now conduct the burn anytime until the end of April, weather permitting.   The area, known as Mesa Chivato, is west of Highway 550 and approximately 15 miles southwest of San Luis, New Mexico.  During the burn, signs alerting the public to the prescribed fire will be posted along BLM Road 1103.  Smoke may be visible from Highway 550.

Vegetation in the area consists primarily of ponderosa pine, piñon, and juniper trees.  The goal of this project is to reduce tree density and thereby reduce the potential of catastrophic wildfire.  

For information about this, and other prescribed burn operations, as well as wildland fire updates please visit www.nmfireinfo.com.  

For additional information about this planned burn, please contact Fire Management Officer Todd Richards at 505-761-8769 or Fuels Specialist Zach Saavedra at 505-761-8963.


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.