Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fires, also known as prescribed burns or Rx, refer to the controlled application of fire by a team of fire experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire.
The Santa Fe National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the fall and winter as weather conditions allow. Prescribed fire helps reduce overgrown vegetation to protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from catastrophic wildfires.
For more information on prescribed fire projects visit:
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Prescribed Fire Project Status 2025-2026
| District | Name | Type | Acres | Status |
| Espanola | Borrego Campground | Jackpot | 399 | Complete |
| Jemez | North Holiday | Broadcast | 591 | Complete |
| Espanola | Hyde Park North Ridge Piles | Pile Burn | 42 | Planned for December 2 |
| Espanola | Thompson Ridge Piles | Pile Burn | 146 | Planned for December 2 |
| Espanola | Tesuque Piles | Pile Burn | 485 | Planned for December 2 |
| Jemez | San Diego Egress Piles | Pile Burn | 17 | Planned for December 2 |
| Jemez | Thompson Ridge Burn Pit | Burn Pit | 0.5 | Planned for December 2 |
| Cuba | American Park Hand Piles | Pile Burn | 28 | Planned for December 2 |
| Cuba | Rock Creek Landing Piles | Pile Burn | 208 | Planned for December 2 |
| Cuba | Tusas West Unit Piles | Pile Burn | 224 | Planned for December 2 |
Prescribed Fire Schedule - Winter Pile Burns
Potential start date for the following pile burns: December 2
American Park Hand Piles
- Size: 28 acres
- Location: located near the junction of Forest Road 103 and New Mexico State Road 126.
- Ignitions are planned for 2 to 3 days.
Rock Creek Landing Piles
- Size: 208 acres
- Location: located near the junction of Forest Road 103 and New Mexico State Road 126.
- Ignitions are planned for 2 to 3 days.
Tusas West Unit Piles
- Size: 224 acres
- Location: located south of McMillan Canyon, northwest of Tusas tank and between Forest Road 534 and 532.
Potential start date for the following pile burns: December 2 and 3
San Diego Egress Piles
- Size: 17 acres
- Location: located along Ponderosa Road off New Mexico State Road 4, approximately two miles north of the Jemez Ranger Station.
- Ignitions are planned for 1 to 2 days.
Thompson Ridge Burn Pit
- Size: 0.5 acre
- Location: located near the community of Thompson Ridge along Forest Road 106JA.
- Ignitions are planned for 1 day.
- Operations aim to burn slash generated by the community during defensible space cleanup.
No prescribed fire projects planned at this time
Potential start date for the following pile burns: December 2
Hyde Park North Ridge Piles
- Size: 42 acres
- Location: located north of Black Canyon Campground.
- Ignitions are planned for 2 to 3 days.
Thompson Ridge Piles
- Size: 146 acres
- Location: located in Santa Fe, N.M. near McClure Reservoir.
- Ignitions are planned for 3 to 5 days.
Tesuque Piles
- Size: 485 acres
- Location: located north of Santa Fe, N.M near Hyde Park Road and Forest Road 102.
- Ignitions planned for 7 to 10 days.
No prescribed fire projects planned at this time
Prescribed Fire Schedule - Fall Broadcast Burns
No prescribed fire projects planned at this time
North Holiday Overview - COMPLETE
- Acres: 878
- Location: Holiday Mesa approximately 3 miles northwest of the village of Jemez Springs
- Smoke: Smoke will be visible from Jemez Springs, Pueblo of Jemez, Ponderosa, Canon, Gilman, and from U.S. Route 550 between Rio Rancho and San Ysidro.
- NEPA: The Southwest Jemez Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project is a long-term forest and watershed restoration project to increase the landscape's resilience to severe wildfire and other large-scale disturbances.
North Holiday Prescribed Fire Updates
November 4, 2025
- 10:51 am: Ignitions began on the North Holiday Prescribed Fire.
- 7:11 pm: Ignitions are complete for the day. Approximately 209 acres burned.
November 5, 2025
- 10:01 AM - Test fire successful, prescribed fire will continue
- 6:41 PM - Ignitions complete. 382 acres completed.
FINAL UPDATE
Fire crews successfully completed ignitions on 591 acres. Fire managers made the decision not to continue with the planned 878 acres. Fire crews will now shift their focus to securing fire lines around the fire perimeter and patrolling and monitoring the burn into the winter.
Smoke from the North Holiday Prescribed Fire
(SFNF)No prescribed fire projects planned at this time
Borrego Campground - COMPLETE
- Acres: 399
- Location: Borrego Mesa approximately 4 miles south of Truchas, N.M.
- Smoke: Smoke will be visible from Cordovas, Chimayo, Cundiyo and Truchas.
- NEPA: The Borrego Mesa Fuelwood Treatment includes thinning and burning to create healthy and resilient ecosystems and timber stands.
Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire Updates
October 22, 2025
- 9:00 am: Ignitions began on the Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire on October 22, 2025.
- 6:15 pm: Ignitions are complete for the day, approximately 300 acres burned.
October 23, 2025
- The prescribed fire project area received moisture, ignitions postponed.
October 24, 2025
- Fire managers made the decision to postpone ignitions until next Tuesday October 28, 2025.
October 28, 2025
- The Espanola Ranger District Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire had a successful test ignition this morning due to favorable conditions. Ignitions will continue on the remaining 99 acres this afternoon.
- Smoke is visible from Cordova, Chimayo, Taos, Cundiyo, Truchas, and Santa Fe.
- The Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire is complete, and fire resources will shift to patrolling and monitoring the area.
Crews conduct ignitions on the 399-acre Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire
(SFNF)
Ignitions began on the Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire.
(SFNF)
No prescribed fire projects planned at this time
Doing Things Differently
Doing Things Differently
(SFNF)