Pile Burning Updates

This page will hold daily summaries of any winter pile burning ignitions. View the full list of potential locations. Contact the public information officer listed below for any questions.

Jan. 29

Fire crews treated piles from 50 acres of thinning along Forest Service Road 559, wrapping up pile burning for the time being. Crews will pivot to patrolling and monitoring all treated piles while fire managers monitor conditions for future burning. Get pile burning alerts and more by signing up for the Carson National Forest email list. 

Jan. 28

Fire crews completed the following pile burning today:

• El Rito (Rio Arriba County): 100 acres along Forest Road 559. Crews will return Jan. 29 to continue work.
• Tres Piedras: 116 acres along Hwy. 64, completing all piles and making way for understory burning in the future.

For treated piles, crews will patrol and monitor them until the fires are called out. In the meantime, the piles may continue to smolder and give off a nighttime glow.

Jan. 27

Fire crews began ignitions today in three locations, with plans to return tomorrow for more. Here's the latest:

• El Rito (Rio Arriba County): 154 acres treated.
• Tres Piedras (along Hwy. 64): 96 acres treated.
• Near Peñasco (El Valle): 143 acres treated, wrapping up pile burning for the season in the Rio Trampas Project.

Tomorrow, crews will return to projects near El Rito and Tres Piedras.

Jan. 26

With a snowstorm this past weekend, fire crews are planning for more pile burning. Ignitions could start as early as Jan. 27 near:

• El Rito (Rio Arriba Co.), off Forest Road 44. Piles from up to 50 acres will be treated on Jan. 27.
• Tres Piedras, west of town near Tusas Valley where piles from 212 acres of thinning are located south of Highway 64.
• Peñasco area, just southwest of the El Valle community and off Forest Road 714 where piles from 143 thinned acres are ready.

Jan. 23

• Taos Ski Valley: Fire crews treated the last 10 acres of piles from thinning along the Wheeler Peak Trail, wrapping up all pile burning as part of the Highway 150 Corridor Wildland Urban Interface Project. Crews will shift to patrolling and monitoring.
• Red River: No ignitions occurred today. Crews will look for opportunities to treat piles at the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area after this weekend's snowstorm. 

Jan. 22

Fire crews accomplished the following today:

• Red River (Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area): Piles representing five acres treated.
• Taos Ski Valley (Wheeler Peak Trail): 40 acres of piles treated. 

Crews plan ot return Friday to continue burning at both locations.

Jan. 21

With snow persisting at higher elevations and more in the forecast, fire managers are looking to potentially begin ignitions near two communities as early as Jan. 22:

• Red River: Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area
• Taos Ski Valley: Wheeler Peak Trail

Jan. 17

Fire crews treated 98 acres between the villages of Ojo Sarco and Trampas. All piles are now under a patrol and monitor status. No further pile burning is expected at this time. Sign up for email alerts to get notified when ignitions restart.

Jan. 16

Fire crews completed ignitions today, treating nearly 300 acres near Peñasco and around Canjilon. The following is planned on Jan. 17:

• Peñasco: Crews may continue igntiions farther south of Chamisal, treating piles from about 100 acres of thinning between Trampas and Ojo Sarco. More piles to the southeast of El Valle, representing about 150 acres of thinning, may also be treated.
• Canjilon: While work is largely done in the planned pile burning units, a few untreated piles may be treated in clean-up ignitions. Minimal smoke is expected.

Jan. 15

There are no pile burning ignitions today, but crews are planning for more work this weekend.

• Peñasco Area: Pile burning may begin Friday, just south of Chamisal, followed by locations near El Valle and between Trampas and Ojo Sarco on future days (see map).
• Canjilon: Crews will continue work on Canjilon Wildland Urban Interface Project with plans to treat piles on the southwest (Firday) and northeast (Saturday) sides of the village.

Jan. 14

Crews completed ignitions near Capulin Peak, treating piles made from 134 acres of thinning.

This was the first prescribed fire within the Pueblo Ridge Restoration Project on the north side of Taos Canyon. Thinning and burning will be ongoing over numerous years to reduce the threat of wildfire to Taos Pueblo, nearby private lands and watersheds.

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Jan. 13

Crews successfully treated piles from acres of hazard tree removal around Agua Piedra Campground. Ignitions on piles near Capulin Peak above Taos Canyon were postponed until Jan. 14 due to smoke dispersal conditions.

Fire managers continueto evaluate potential projects to begin on Thursday or after, including around El Rito (Rio Arriba County), Highway 150/Wheeler Peak Trail, San Cristobal, and Red River (Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area).

Jan. 12

Crews are not pile burning today, but fire managers are planning to begin ignitions on piles near Capulin Peak above Taos Canyon at near Agua Piedra Campground along Highway 518 on Jan. 13.

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Jan. 9

With the arrival of more winter weather, Carson National Forest fire crews and partners are planning to restart pile burning as early as Jan. 12. The exact timing of ignitions will depend on wind, weather, fuel moisture conditions and required approvals.

Crews are currently evaluating the possibility of starting near Capulin Peak above Taos Canyon or near Peñasco, N.M., but other locations are possible. Due to the proximity to neighborhoods, a map of pile locations near Peñasco is pictured here.

Dec. 18

No pile burning is scheduled for the rest of 2025. Work is expected to restart in January 2026.

Dec. 8

No pile burning is currently scheduled.

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Dec. 3

Fire crews conducted pile burning in three different locations today:

• Along Highway 150
• East of Hopewell Lake
• Along Forest Road 137, southwest of El Rito (Rio Arriba County)

All piles were completed along Forest Road 137, representing 108 acres of thining. Piles remain in the other two projects areas and will be addressed in the future.

No ignitions are planned for Dec. 4.

Dec. 2

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Crews began pile burning along Highway 150 near Taos Ski Valley, completing 49 acres. More ignitions are planned for Dec. 3, when pile burning near Hopewell Lake and Forest Road 137 (near El Rito in Rio Arriba County) is also planned.

Dec. 1

Crews are preparing to begin pile burning across the forest this week:

• Dec. 2: Highway 150 and Wheeler Peak Trail
• Dec. 3: Hopewell Lake and Forest Road 137 (Near El Rito in Rio Arriba County)

Nov. 30

No pile burning is scheduled for Dec. 1. Crews will evaluate conditions for potential ignitions beginning Dec. 2 near Taos Ski Valley and Hopewell Lake.

Nov. 24

Fire crews are planning to begin pile burning ignitons as early as Dec. 1 near Taos Ski Valley and Hopewell Lake. This page will be updated when plans are confirmed.