Prescribed burns scheduled for Carson through end of year
A large smoke plume visible in the northern part of Taos County on Thursday (Dec. 3) came from a prescribed – or planned – burn in the San Cristóbal and Kiowa Village area, according to MaryAnna Clemons of the Carson National Forest.
The burn is one of seven “pile burns” the Forest Service has planned to take place between Nov. 6 and Dec. 31. Pile burns involve setting fire to stacks of slash, or woody debris left over after tree cutting efforts. A prescribed burn is a critical fire management tool, used to reduce the concentration of debris, like dead and downed trees, which can cause natural or human-caused fires to grow out of control.
This year saw a series of recordbreaking wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington that were fueled by climate change and a lack of sufficient forestry management. In total, the fires burned more than 8.2 million acres and killed 37 people.
The Luna Fire, which started in October and burned 10,142 acres of Carson National Forest in the Camino Rael Ranger District, was the largest forest fire to take place near Taos County this year.
Taos County residents may see other smoke plumes in their area this year as the Carson National Forest Service seeks to complete the following prescribed burns while moisture levels, winds and weather forecasts remain favorable:
• Canjilon WUI Piles is an 85-acre pile burn located near Canjilon, New Mexico.
• El Rito Canyon Piles is a 238acre prescribed pile burn, located near El Rito, New Mexico.
• Maquinitas Piles is an 862acre pile burn, located in the Tusas Valley west of Tres Piedras, New Mexico.
• Deer Trail Piles is a 158-acre pile burn, located in the Tusas Valley west of Tres Piedras, New Mexico.
• Tio Gordito Piles is a 604-acre pile burn, located near Tres Piedras, New Mexico.
• La Jara Piles is a 50-acre pile burn, located adjacent to Taos Pines Community near Palo Flechado Pass on U.S. 64.
More information can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture website,