Sandia Ranger District implements David Canyon prescribed fire

Fire managers in the Sandia Ranger District implemented the previously announced David Canyon prescribed fire and continuing through Oct. 22.

Fire crews are looking at burning approximately 459 acres in the David Canyon area in the Manzanita Mountains, according to a press release from the Forest Service.

David Canyon is located west of N.M. 337 and west of the Mars Court trailhead. We ask visitors to avoid areas of Pine Flat, Otero Canyon, Tunnel Canyon, Oak Flats and Mars Court trails system.

The Forest Service manages all prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state regulations on air quality and smoke management. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Tijeras, Edgewood, Moriarty and Albuquerque.

The decision to proceed depends on multiple factors, including resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality and forecast weather. Prescribed burns are designed to meet specific objectives and are always managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority, the Forest Service said in its release.

Prescribed fires are one of the tools available for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire. Fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds.

With fire there is smoke, but compared to wildfires, prescribed fires are shorter in duration and are conducted under weather conditions to minimize the impact of smoke on the public, the Forest Service said.

Fire crews use tactics such as starting early in the day and ending ignitions early in the afternoon to allow for the most ventilation possible throughout the burn and dividing blocks into smaller units to minimize smoke impacts as much as possible.

However, smoke may be visible periodically from local communities and the surrounding areas for the duration of the project until the burning vegetation is out. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health's environmental public health tracking website.

All fire updates will be posted on the Cibola NF&NG'S website, NM Fire Information website and on the Cibola Facebook & Twitter pages.

For more information on the David Canyon prescribed fire, contact the Sandia Ranger District office at 505-281-3304 or Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor’s Office: 505-346-3900.