Kirtland AFB News:

Beginning Oct. 28, Kirtland Air Force Base officials expect to begin prescribed burns in wildfire-prone remote areas of the base, to reduce combustible plant material that could fuel potential wildfires.

The prescribed burn will only occur under optimal conditions of temperature, humidity, wind direction and wind speed to ensure safe operations and the protection of our neighboring communities.

Prescribed burns are carefully managed, under a multi-agency approach, to maximize safety and effectiveness, while minimizing risk.

The prescribed burn will create smoke, but compared to wildfires, prescribed fires are shorter in duration and are conducted under specific weather conditions to minimize the public impact of smoke.

Fire crews will start in the morning and end ignitions in the afternoon to allow for the most ventilation possible throughout the burns and divide treatment areas into smaller units to minimize limit smoke impacts. However, smoke may be visible from local communities until the burning vegetation is consumed.

For more information, call the 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs office at 505.846.5991.