Prescribed burns planned for the Smokey Bear Ranger District

Burns are part of the overall management strategy for Lincoln National Forest

Prescribed burns on the Smokey Bear Ranger District in the Lincoln National Forest will tentatively begin on September 11 and continue through September 22, 2023.

Work will take place on the Brazel Push, the Smokey Bear Admin site, and the Jack’s Peak East unit.

Brazel Push is an approximately 90-acre area located between Capitan and Ruidoso. The Smokey Bear Administration site is an approximately 22-acre area located near the administrative site in Ruidoso, and Jack’s Peak is a 250-acre area east of Ancho.

Prescribed burns are key in the removal and clearing of flammable fuels in a closely watched setting. This will allow the Forest Service to continue to mitigate wildfire risk and create a healthier forest.

Residents and visitors in the vicinity of the burns can expect smoky conditions during and in the days following the event. Smoke will be visible in and around Ruidoso, Capitan, and Ancho communities.

Smoke will also be seen within Ruidoso limits, and near the recreation and campgrounds surrounding the administration site.

Weather, moisture, and ground conditions will be closely monitored before, during, and following the burns, and operations will cease or be cancelled on short notice if it is determined that conditions are not optimal.

The Lincoln National Forest land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fires on the landscape.

For more updates and information, please visit the Lincoln National Forest website at

www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln, or follow us on Twitter: @LincolnUSForest.