White Oaks Pile Burn Planned for Smokey Bear Ranger District
Fire managers on the Smokey Bear Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest hope to take advantage of favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality, and forecasted weather to conduct pile burning along Jicarilla road / Forest Road 72. 1-3 miles east of White Oaks, NM. Planned ignition dates: 8/9 - 8/11. Unit: 240 acres of dozer piled pinon/juniper trees. Updates: www.nmfireinfo.com
The purpose of these projects is to reduce hazardous fuels following thinning and fuelwood removal activities. Reducing hazardous fuels will help reduce the threat of high severity, high-intensity wildfire to the public, adjacent private property and natural resources in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area that surrounds the communities of White Oaks and Ruidoso. Treatments will help fire managers re-introduce fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem, thus improving forest health, forest resiliency and wildlife habitat.
Smoke may be visible from most communities in Lincoln County.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These fires mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing habitat diversity. Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority.
Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico DOH website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.
For prescribed fire updates, visit: www.nmfireinfo.com. For additional information, contact the Lincoln National Forest Public Affairs Officer at 575-434-7290.
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