BLM plans prescribed burn activities in Lincoln and Eddy counties
ROSWELL, N.M. – Beginning in late-October, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to conduct prescribed fire operations in Lincoln and Eddy counties. Specifically, the BLM plans to burn slash piles at the Fort Stanton – Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area located near Capitan, N.M., and the Cottonwood Day Use area located near Whites City, N.M. The operations may continue through late November, are weather dependent and may take several days to complete.
Smoke from the Fort Stanton Pile burn may be visible from Ruidoso, Capitan, Lincoln and nearby communities. Smoke from the Cottonwood Day Use area may be visible from Whites City, Carlsbad Caverns, and the city of Carlsbad. Although smoke should not impact highways, personnel will post signs along roadways to inform motorists about the potential for smoke. The agency reminds motorists to use caution by reducing speed and watching for fire personnel and equipment.
The purpose of the prescribed burns is to remove slash piles from previous thinning projects. These operations will help reduce the severity of wildfires and decrease the risk to firefighters, the public and adjacent property. Additional goals are to improve watershed and habitat conditions, increase the health, vigor, and competitive ability of the native plant community, and reduce the threat of non-native and native invasive plant species.
“We are doing our part to better serve our neighbors and communities by improving rangeland health and wildlife habitat conditions,” said BLM Fire Management Specialist Dominic Bell.
Prior to and during all prescribed fires, fire managers coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and follow air quality regulations. Those who may have health conditions that make them vulnerable to smoke exposure can get information about smoke and protecting their health at https://nmfireinfo.com/smoke-management/. In addition to NMED’s air quality monitoring site at https://aqi.air.env.nm.gov, a resource for viewing sources of smoke and other factors affecting air quality can be found at www.airnow.gov.
The BLM encourages public land users to continue to be careful with fire. To report a wildfire on public land, please call Alamogordo Interagency Dispatch at 877-695-1663. For more information on this prescribed burn and the BLM fire and hazardous fuels reduction program, please contact Dominic Bell at 575-627-0327. To remain up-to-date on implementation, please visit NMFireInfo.com or follow us on X at https://twitter.com/NMFireInfo or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nmfireinfo.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.