Prescribed burn at top of Taos Canyon takes pause for July 4th
Wildland firefighters are only a quarter of the way through a planned prescribed burn at the top of Taos Canyon but will take a one-day pause for the Fourth of July holiday.
The La Jara prescribed burn began Friday (June 28), with a total of 986 acres set to receive low-intensity fire. As of Monday (July 1), 233 acres had been treated with fire. Scattered rain has helped keep the fire in check, burning slowly.
The burn is happening in the La Jara area off of U.S. Highway 64 at Palo Flechado Pass, which is the dividing line between Taos and Colfax counties.
“The intent is to burn the residual fuels to create defensible space near the communities of Taos Pines and Angel Fire, restore forest health and improve wildlife habitat,” said Matthew Garcia, a spokesperson with the U.S. Forest Service.
The burn is happening in two distinct areas. “Taos Pines unit” consists of 410 acres next to the community of Taos Pines and Forest Service Road 5; the “Bull Springs unit” totals 576 acres, and is located “south of U.S. 64 along the A1 spur of the Elliott Barker Trail and extends south to the meadow near Bull Springs,” according to the Carson National Forest Camino Real Ranger District, which is conducting the burn.
Theses areas were previously thinned and used for wood collecting.
The community of Taos Pines has been intimately involved with these efforts over the past few years.
“We have been working closely with the USFS during this prescribed burn and the previously abandoned prescribed burn attempts,” said Bob Elsinger, president of the Taos Pines Ranch Property Owners Association.
“We all experienced the Ute Park fire last year and are aware of the need for proactive measures to reduce the chance of wildfires impacting our community,” he said.
“We held informational meetings between the USFS and our residents in the past and have unanimous support for the burn from our members. We are providing access through our properties to help facilitate a safe and effective prescribed burn in the forest adjacent to our subdivision,” said Elsinger.
According to the Forest Service, fire operations “will pause during the Independence Day holiday [July 4]. Fire managers will then evaluate starting up ignitions on July 5 and continue the prescribed burn as conditions allow.”
The forest also issued this warning concerning recreation in the area.
“The Elliot Barker trail 1 segment from Bull Springs Meadow to Apache Pass will not be accessible during prescribed fire operations. Also, the trail known as Palo Flechado trail 1A from Palo Flechado Pass to Bull Springs Meadow will also be inaccessible. For your safety, entry into these trail systems is highly discouraged due to possible hazards that are always present in any prescribed fire. These areas will be hazardous until completion of prescribed burning operations for the near future.”
Smoke is visible in Angel Fire, Taos Canyon, Eagle Nest, Valle Escondido and Black Lake.