Fire on the Mountain Once Again This Week

Many people were startled by last week's prescribed burns in the Santa Fe National Forest, the huge column of smoke in the east reminding us of scary fire seasons past. Porfirio Chavarria, the city's Assistant WildLand Urban Interface Specialist, has passed on the following press release from the Forest Service, announcing additional burns for this week, two of which may be visible from Santa Fe:

"FOUR PRESCRIBED BURNS PLANNED FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 27TH

(SANTA FE, NM)—Next week if air quality, weather, and fuel conditions are favorable, Fire Managers on the Santa Fe National Forest will treat four hazardous fuels areas with prescribed fire.

• Santa Fe Municipal Watershed Pile Burning, Española Ranger District : The Santa Fe Municipal Watershed burn is located on the north side of Santa Fe Watershed, south of NM 475, North of Nichols reservoir, and east of Hyde Park Estates. Smoke released from the Santa Fe Watershed Burn will be visible from the city of Santa Fe, east of Santa Fe, Tesuque and surrounding areas. Smoke will settle into lower elevations and in drainage areas during the evenings, but should lift by mid-morning.
• Road 18 Burn, Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District : The Road 18 prescribed burn area is located approximately 16 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Smoke released from Road 18 burn will be visible from the communities of Mineral Hill, Camp Blue Haven, San Geronimo, San Pablo, Gallinas, and Las Vegas.
• Chaparral Burn, Cuba Ranger District : The Chaparral prescribed burn area is located 3 miles west of the community of Seven Springs. Smoke released from the Chaparral burn will be visible from Rio Rancho, Cuba, Seven Springs, and Santa Fe.
• Mesa Camino Burn, Coyote Ranger District :
  The Mesa Camino prescribed burn area is located 7 miles northeast of Gallina. Smoke released from the Mesa Camino burn will be visible from the communities of Ghost Ranch, Rio Chama Monastery, and Abiquiu.

For daily progress reports regarding ongoing prescribed burns on the Santa Fe National Forest, please call toll-free: 1-877-971-FIRE (3473)."