Santa Fe Watershed Prescribed Burn Expected to Be Completed Today; Smoke Will Be Visible from Santa Fe
Release Date: Sep 28, 2015
Contact(s): Julie Anne Overton
SANTA FE, NM – September 28, 2015 – For Immediate Release. After determining that conditions are favorable for a successful prescribed burn, fire managers are proceeding with aerial ignitions today to complete treatment on approximately 644 acres in the Santa Fe Watershed.
Winds are expected to push the smoke southeast of town during the day, but smoke will be visible from Santa Fe. As the temperature drops this evening, heavy smoke is expected in Santa Fe and Canada de Los Alamos from approximately 8:00 p.m. tonight until mid-morning on Tuesday.
In order to prevent or reduce exposure to smoke, people are encouraged to sleep with their windows closed this evening and limit outside activity tomorrow morning. This will be especially important for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illnesses. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health’s website: https://nmtracking.org/fire.
Other areas that may be impacted include Tesuque, Glorieta, Pecos and Pecos Canyon, El Dorado and I-25. Lingering smoke may also be present for up to one week after ignitions are complete. Smoke from the prescribed burn will be monitored so that information is available to provide health advisories as necessary.
The Santa Fe Watershed treatment area, totaling 844 acres, is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the city of Santa Fe and west of the Agua Sarca drainage. Yesterday crews completed a 60-foot “blackline” buffer around the perimeter of the planned burn to contain the fire during today’s aerial ignitions.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These fires mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing wildlife habitat diversity. Each prescribed burn is designed to meet specific objectives. The Santa Fe Watershed prescribed burn is designed to remove dead forest fuels, provide community protection and promote forest health. Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
For additional information about this prescribed burn, please contact the Santa Fe Watershed Fire Information Team at 505-438-5321 or 575-741-1516.
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