October 24, 2024 – Today fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NG) were successfully able to implement the Capilla prescribed fire (Rx) on the Mountainair Ranger District. Weather conditions were favorable for ground and aerial ignitions. Due to the success of the day, minimal burning is expected tomorrow or over the weekend, however, there may be small interior pockets of fuels that require ignition. Due to light winds overnight, a smoke inversion is possible, especially throughout the Estancia Valley. This may cause smoke to settle in surrounding communities rather than disperse but is expected to dissipate as daytime temperatures increase.

Fire crews were able to burn approximately 570 acres beginning at 7:30 AM this morning. The Capilla Fuels Reduction and Restoration Project in the Manzano Mountains is located approximately 10 miles northwest of the town of Mountainair in the southern half of the Manzano Mountains of Torrance County New Mexico.

Smoke may be visible from Mountainair, Punta de Agua, Manzano, Torreon and Estancia Valley. Visitors to the Red Canyon Campground as well as the Red Canyon, Spruce Spring, New Canyon, and Crest Trails may be affected. There are currently no road or area closures in effect. The Cibola NF & NGs manages all prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state air quality and smoke management regulations. However, smoke may settle into drainages and lower elevations at night. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the https://www.airnow.gov/

Some objectives for the Capilla Rx include improving wildlife habitat by creating diversity in vegetation, returning fire to the ecosystem in a controlled and efficient manner, and to reduce fuel loadings/raise the canopy cover base to reduce the likelihood of a crown fire, all while providing for the safety of all fire personnel and members of the public.

Our land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, including reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. Prescribed fires are intended to reduce hazardous fuels accumulated due to drought, climate change, insects and disease, and decades of fire suppression. Additionally, fire managers use prescribed fire to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, increase firefighter safety, enhance wildlife habitat, and protect communities and watersheds. Prescribed fires are designed to meet specific objectives and are always managed with firefighter and public safety as the priority.

Implementation announcements and updates on prescribed fire projects will be posted on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF & NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola Twitter sites.

If you would like specific information, please contact the Mountainair Ranger District Office at (505) 847-2990 or the Cibola NF & NG Supervisor’s Office at (505) 346-3900.