Plans are in place for two prescribed burns in the western zone of the Carson National Forest.
The first will be the Lagunitas Mountain Grassland burn on Thursday (9/25) and Friday.
This project is located in the Tres Piedras Ranger District on Forest Road 87 and old Forest Road 87X in the drainage bottom of Largo Canyon. The project consists of 1,200 acres of broadcast burning to consume old and stagnant grasses within the meadow and control encroachment of conifer trees.
The burn area is adjacent to the Cruces Basin Wilderness and smoke will be visible to hunters and visitors in the general vicinity.
Conditions will be monitored closely for a late-fall ignition of the Bixler Prescribed Burn on the Jicarilla Ranger District. This project is located north and west of the intersection of Highway 64 and Forest Road 310 around Bixler Ranch. The 1,100-acre project is intended to reduce the hazardous fuel loading of oak, piñon and juniper thickets and dead fuel on the forest floor.
Smoke will be visible from Dulce and along Highway 64 near the Western Jicarilla Apache boundary.
People with respiratory ailments, sensitivities to smoke, or who are otherwise concerned about air quality impacts may visit www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/Wildfire-PM.html or the American Lung Association’s website at www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=36064.