Prescribed Burns Planned Near Las Cruces, Pinos Altos This Fall

Residents around Las Cruces and Organ may see smoke from the Organ Mountains area this fall as federal fire crews conduct a prescribed pile burn east of the city.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service plans prescribed burns at two locations within the Las Cruces District between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, weather permitting. The projects include a 10-acre pile burn near Las Cruces and a larger 205-acre broadcast burn near Pinos Altos in Grant County.

Notices will be posted in nearby communities before each prescribed burn begins.

Ice Canyon Burn Near Las Cruces

The Ice Canyon Pile Burn covers approximately 10 acres about 10 miles east of Las Cruces and two miles south of Organ.

Crews will burn piles of juniper, piñon, oak and ponderosa pine slash left from thinning projects. The work is intended to remove accumulated material, reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem health and wildlife habitat, and help protect surrounding communities.

Smoke from the Ice Canyon burn may be visible from Baylor Canyon Road, Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces and Organ. Prescribed-fire signs will also be placed near the Dripping Springs Recreation Area.

Larger Burn Planned Near Pinos Altos

In Grant County, crews plan a 205-acre broadcast burn approximately one-quarter mile north of Pinos Altos, near Bear Creek Road and NM Highway 15.

Unlike the piles burned at Ice Canyon, the Pinos Altos project will burn vegetation and undergrowth across the designated area.

The project is being conducted cooperatively with the local community to reduce fuel on Bureau of Land Management lands and lessen wildfire threats to both public and private property.

Wildland Fire Service personnel will coordinate with the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire Department, neighboring landowners, range allotment permittees and others before ignition.

Smoke could be visible from Highways 15 and 180, Pinos Altos, Silver City and the Mimbres Valley. Motorists on Highway 15 are advised that smoke could temporarily reduce visibility and that fire personnel and equipment may be working near roadways.

Smoke May Linger After Burns

Active ignition at either location is expected to take between one and three days, although smoke could remain visible for as long as a week afterward.

Before ignition, fire managers will obtain site-specific forecasts from the National Weather Service to determine whether conditions fall within established parameters. Crews will continue monitoring the sites for heat and smoke and ensure their perimeters remain secure until the prescribed fires can be declared out.

Fire managers also coordinate prescribed burns with the New Mexico Environment Department and are required to follow state air-quality regulations.

People concerned about smoke and air quality can find information through NMFireInfo’s smoke management resources, the New Mexico Environment Department air-quality monitoring network and AirNow.

Questions about the projects can be directed to the BLM Las Cruces District Office at 575-525-4300.