Santa Fe National Forest Prescribed Burn Update for Friday, November 6, 2009, 12:00 p.m.

Ignitions have started for today on the Chaparral, Begoso and Thompson Ridge prescribed burns:

Chaparral Rx Burn, Cuba Ranger District

 Today, fire managers plan to continue treating the Chaparral project area with prescribed fire.

The Chaparral Prescribed Burn is a 1500-acre hazardous fuels reduction project designed to reduce the threat of wildfire to the nearby community of Seven Springs as well as to improve overall forest health.

The burn area is approximately 9 miles northwest of Jemez Springs.

Smoke from the Chaparral Prescribed Burn will be visible from Seven Springs, along the Jemez corridor, Highway 550 and into Cuba, NM.

Begoso Rx Burn, Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District

Today and through the weekend, fire managers plan to continue treating the Begoso project area with prescribed fire.

The burn area is located 14 miles southeast of Pecos, NM, due west of Punta de la Mesa de San Jose.

The objectives of this burn are to: reduce the piñon-juniper encroachment in the ponderosa pine stands and open grasslands; improve wildlife/range habitat by increasing forage production through new grass growth and sprouting oak.

Smoke from the Begoso Prescribed Burn will be visible from the communities of Rowe, Pecos, Glorieta, Ilfeld, San Juan, San Jose, San Ysidro, Ribera and along the I-25 corridor.

Thompson Ridge Rx Burn, Jemez Ranger District

Today and tomorrow, fire managers plan to continue treating the remaining 278-acres within the Thompson Ridge project area with prescribed fire.

The burn area is located, 10 miles north of Jemez Springs, directly north of La Cueva, off of State Hwy 4; access through Forest Road 106.

Anyone traveling in this area should use caution driving because of smoke and fire traffic in the area. Please drive slow and use lights.

The burn area has been thinned or masticated; treatment by prescribed burning will reduce the effects of a wildfire to the community of Thompson Ridge.

Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Prescribed Burn will be visible from Thompson Ridge Estates, La Cueva, Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, San Ysidro, Zia Pueblo and portions of State Hwy. 550 between Bernalillo and San Ysidro.

For updated information on planned and ongoing prescribed burns, call toll-free, 1-877-971-FIRE (3473), or visit nmfireinfo.com. For additional information on programs to reduce wildfire threat to communities, visit http://www.firewise.org/.

“Signal Peak North” Prescribed Fire – Burning operations underway – Gila National Forest

The Silver City Ranger District of the Gila National Forest began prescribed fire operations on the “Signal Peak North” project Friday morning and will complete burning operations within the next two days.

The 1000-acre project is located about 12 miles northeast of Silver City — and east of State Highway 15.

Smoke is visible from Silver City and the surrounding area, including the Mimbres Valley.

Smoke may linger in low lying areas at night and during early morning hours, but is expected to disperse as daytime temperatures increase and light winds develop.

Forest visitors, including hunters are encouraged to avoid the project area during prescribed fire operations.

For more information, please call the Fire Information Officer at (575) 388-8245.

Carson National Forest Dry Lakes Rx Today-Dry Lakes II, Tres Piedras Ranger District

Fire Managers on the Carson National Forest have begun ignition of the Dry Lakes II Prescribed Burn today at approximately 10:00 am this morning and will continue through the completion of the project or as weather conditions permit. This project is located three miles southwest of the community of Tres Piedras, off of Forest Road 116. It will consist of broadcast burning of 1,500 acres of thinning slash. Smoke will be visible from Tres Piedras, Las Tablas, Taos and surrounding communities.