BLM News:

TAOS — Beginning Tuesday Oct. 20, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be conducting a 1,750-acre prescribed burn in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument on Cerro Montoso, 12 miles northeast of Tres Piedras.

This operation is weather dependent and will take approximately 30 days to complete, with the end date expected to be Nov. 30.

Smoke from the burn may be visible to surrounding communities, including U.S. Highways 285 and 64. People who are either susceptible to or affected by COVID-19 may have health conditions that also make them vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure.

For more information about smoke and COVID-19, visit https://www.nifc.gov/PIO_bb/pio_documents/Smoke_COVID19_FS_FactSheet.pdf.

Hunters are reminded to use caution by reducing speed and watching for fire personnel and equipment. Hunters should stay out of the burn area until ignition operations are complete. The public should refrain from camping within the burn unit during this time.

The purpose of the project is to improve forest health in piñon/juniper, sagebrush and grasslands by reducing flammable accumulations of vegetation and reintroducing fire to a fire-dependent ecosystem.   

For further information or concerns, contact BLM Taos Field Office Fire Management Officer Kyle Sahd at 575.770.1617. Follow the implementation of this project on NMFireInfo.com, Twitter @nmfireinfo or facebook.com/nmfireinfo.