NE New Mexico News

From March 3, 2023 post.

With winter weather continuing to bring moisture to Northern New Mexico, Carson National Forest fire staff are preparing to move forward with ignitions of debris piles near the communities of Ojo Sarco and Canjilon. These prescribed fires would only move forward pending suitable conditions.

Fire crews this week completed the 2023 Willow Piles Prescribed Fire, where debris piles created from 421 acres of thinning near Hopewell Lake were treated. It was the first prescribed fire on the Carson National Forest since the USDA Forest Service National Prescribed Fire Review was released in September 2022.

“Our first project using the requirements and recommendations from the national review was a success,” said Forest Supervisor James Duran. “Nonetheless, we will still move forward thoughtfully as we re-engage communities and partners in different parts of the Forest.”

OJO SARCO PILES PRESCRIBED FIRE

Ignitions of piles outside Ojo Sarco, NM, could begin as early as Mar. 7. The piles, which were created from 137 acres of thinning, are south of the community and along New Mexico Highway 76. The photo in this post was taken this morning.

This is a continuation of years of work to provide fuelwood opportunities and increase forest health and resiliency around Ojo Sarco, which is positioned atop sloped terrain aligned with predominate southwest winds. A fire start southwest of the community is a concern to fire managers because the typical southwesterly flow of winds could spread a fire to the northeast, where the community is situated. But with reduced fuel around the community because of this project, a safer space is created for firefighters to engage a wildfire and for crews to safely continue prescribed fire as a fuels reduction tool in the wildland-urban interface.

“I’m eager to see these piles addressed before the spring so they do not add to any fire danger over the upcoming fire season” said Camino Real District Ranger Michael Lujan. “Getting to this point has been a long journey, but we couldn’t do it without the support of the public and partner organizations.”

The 417-acre Ojo Sarco project has had several phases, including a public green fuelwood block in 2016, a thinning contract in 2017 and hand piling by Rocky Mountain Youths Corps followed by prescribed fire in 2018. The remaining 137 acres were thinned and piled this past summer by local contractors from Mora and Taos, who were subcontracted by the nonprofit – and Carson National Forest partner – New Mexico Forest Industry Association. The area has been opened several times throughout the life of the project to offer dead and down fuelwood to the public.

On the ground, local fire departments are assisting. Red River Fire Department, along with Forest Service crews, constructed control line along the unit boundary. The Ojo Sarco Volunteer Fire Department is planning to assist Forest Service crews with ignitions of the piles along Highway 76 this winter.

A community meeting about the Ojo Sarco Piles Prescribed Fire will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mon., March 6 at the Ojo Sarco Fire Department, Ojo Sarco Volunteer Fire Department 2228 New Mexico Hwy 76 Ojo Sarco, NM 87521.

- Community Meeting Flyer: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1092461.pdf

- Ojo Sarco Prescribed Fire Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1092460.pdf

CANJILON

Debris piles from 53 acres of thinning to the north of Canjilon. NM, could be ignited later this year. The piles are situated on Forest Service land near the boundary with private parcels to reduce fuels and build an extra buffer for future broadcast prescribed fire throughout the larger landscape north of the community.

For more information on the Canjilon Piles Prescribed Fire, read the full news release: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/carson/news-events/...

Original source can be found here.