Lincoln National Forest Announces Fall 2024 Prescribed Burns

The Lincoln National Forest is planning a prescribed fire schedule for the fall season from October – December 2024. These plans are part of the long-term land management and wildfire mitigation strategy for the forest.

The following list includes all tentative projects, size, dates, and areas of possible smoke visibility for our upcoming prescribed burn projects:

Smokey Bear Ranger District

Project Name/Acres/Smoke Visibility

• Grindstone (pile burn)/ 200 / Ruidoso/Ruidoso Downs, Mescalero, Alto

• Little Eagle (pile burn)/ 160 /Alto, Ruidoso

• Cora Dutton (pile burn)/ 27 /Capitan, Nogal

• Jack’s Peak East (pile burn)/ 318 /Ancho, Carrizozo, White Oaks

• White Oaks (pile burn)/ 7 /White Oaks, Carrizozo

Sacramento Ranger District

• 16 Springs (broadcast burn)/ 2,300 /Weed, Sacramento, Cloudcroft, Mayhill

Prescribed burns are contingent upon current weather and forest conditions leading up to the planned dates. Forest service personnel employ predictive tools, weather models, and standardized analysis methods to determine the feasibility of proceeding with a prescribed burn.

Projects may be canceled or rescheduled on short notice if conditions are deemed unsuitable for the safe completion of the prescribed fire.

The Lincoln National Forest prioritizes long-term forest health, which includes reducing forest fuels through prescribed fire. Our efforts are aligned with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, aiming to increase the use of fire and other treatments to enhance forest resiliency for generations to come.