Valle Vidal Prescribed Burn
Release Date: Apr 6, 2015
Taos, NM, April 6, 2015—For Immediate Release. The Questa Ranger District of the Carson National Forest is planning implementation of a prescribed burn on the east side of the Valle Vidal. This burn is tenatively scheduled to begin April 15, depending on weather conditions, resource availablilty and other parameters.
The Valle Vidal project is comprised of approximately 2,600 acres and is located east of the McCrystal Campground within the Whitman Vega Pasture. The project will be treated with a broadcast burn which consists of the application of fire through hand ignition within well-defined boundaries.
Pine litter, grasses, and large loadings of dead and down woody debris are the primary fuels found in the area. The purpose of the burn is to improve wildlife habitat by decreasing the density of tree stands and increasing the diversity of tree size and age. The prescribed burn will also help with the restoration of meadows and reduce the potential for a high intensity stand replacing fire.
Prescribed burns have proven effective in changing fire behavior by allowing fire to perform its natural role in the environment and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires. These burns also result in minimal impacts to air quality while smoke from uncharacteristic wildfires may pose significant risks to public health and safety.
Smoke will be visible from the Village of Cimarron and the community of Ute Park.
For people with respiratory ailments, sensitivities to smoke, or otherwise concerned about air quality impacts, please visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.