Smoke Update: Prescribed burns, forest fire

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Smoke is visible across large sections of New Mexico as the U.S. Forest Service enjoys favorable weather for prescribed burns.

The one active wildfire, the Midnight Fire northeast of Red River, is not out but is a shadow of its once-raging self.

In general the burns are intended to reduce fuels available for wildfires and to improve forest health.

Here are the latest available reports and dates released from fire bosses around the state:

Santa Fe National Forest, Cuba Ranger District, Chaparral Prescribed Burn (updated Oct. 31)

Fire managers have completed ignitions for today and this week after treating 1,365 acres with prescribed fire. Fire managers will monitor the burn area through the weekend,. Residual smoke will be visible for a few days. An inversion is expected tonight. Smoke will once again settle into lower elevations and in drainage areas, but will lift by mid-morning.

Previous report Oct. 30:

Fire managers treated an additional 500 acres of hazardous fuels Tuesday. Since Monday 1,000 acres have been treated with hand and aerial ignitions. Tomorrow, if conditions are favorable on Wednesday, fire managers will treat the remaining 365 acres.

The burn is located 10 miles northwest of the community of Jemez Springs and 2 miles south of the Rancho del Chaparral Girl Scout Camp. Smoke from the burn will be visible from La Cueva, Sierra Los Pinos, Jemez Pueblo, San Ysidro, Zia Pueblo, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, and areas off HWY 4 and HWY 550. Potential impacts could occur in the Rio Grande Valley, and in the areas near Santa Domingo and Cochiti Pueblo.

Carson National Forest, Midnight Fire, northeast of Red River (Oct. 30)

There has been very little fire activity on the Midnight Fire the last couple of days. The majority of the fire has burned itself out with the change of fuels, the colder temperatures and the shorter days. Some heat remains in approximately 3-4 acres as the fire continues to creep and smolder in these areas, however the spread potential is low and is presently not considered a threat. Occasional smoke will continue to be visible as unburned fuels in the interior ignite.

Carson National Forest, Francisco Prescribed Burn, near Truchas (Oct. 30)

Burning will begin Wednesday, Oct. 31 and continue through November 1 depending on the weather. This project consists of 1,000 acres and the plan is to treat approximately 300 acres per day. This area was treated with fire in 2003 and tomorrow’s burn is a maintenance burn in a predominantly Ponderosa pine area.

Located three miles northeast of Truchas, east of NM Highway 76 on Forest Road 155. Smoke will be visible from Truchas, Ojo Sarco, El Valle, Chamisal and Penasco. Motorists on NM Highway 76 are urged to use caution due to reduced visibility during prescribed burn periods.

Gila National Forest, Silver City Ranger District, Farm Flats Prescribed Fire (Oct. 31)

Smoke from the prescribed north of Silver Cityfire will continue to be highly visible in the Grant County area for the next couple of days. As smoke will be present along NM State Highway 15, NM 35, and other roadways in the fire area, road travelers are advised to use caution and reduce speeds. Fire personnel will monitor the area throughout the weekend.

Gila National Forest, Silver City Ranger District, Slaughter Mesa Prescribed Fire (Oct. 26)

Pending favorable weather conditions, the Quemado Ranger District’s455-acre prescribed fire on the Slaughter Mesa Unit 14 is expected to start Oct.31-Nov. 3 or Nov. 5-9. The Slaughter Mesa area is south of the Forest Road 13 and 93 junction approximately 22 miles south-southeast of Quemado. Smoke will be visible in the Quemado Lake, Mangas, Apache Creek, Aragon, and Armijo Springs area during early morning and evening hours and is expected to decrease as daytime temperatures increase.

Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District, Pile Burning (Oct. 23)

Starting the end of October and continuing through December as weather permits, the Wilderness Ranger District will be burning slash piles located throughout the district. Project locations  

• Wilderness Ranger District off N.M. State Highway 35
• Adjacent to Powderhorn Road (Forest Service Road 151)
• Along the Mimbres River, near Forest Service Roads 150A (Cooney Road) and 4080T, and downstream of the Cooney Subdivision.  

Smoke will be visible in the burn areas and from North Star Road (Forest Service Road 150), McKnight Road (Forest Service Road 152), and N.M. 35.

Coconino National Forest, Arizona (Oct. 30)

The Flagstaff Fire Department and the Arizona State Forestry Division are collaborating on plans to implement two prescribed broadcast burns this Thursday. A portion of City owned land containing several wells supplying a portion of Flagstaff’s domestic water supply and an adjacent State owned property will be burned in a joint effort to consolidate fire operations and reduce the duration of any smoke impacts to area residents. These burns are located