San Andres NWR Prescribed Burn

From June 12-13, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in conjunction with the Department of Defense will be prescribed burning approximately 5,500 acres of pinyon-juniper, interior chaparral, montane scrub and Piedmont grassland habitats within the San Andres Mountains on the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. This prescribed fire is a first time historic event for the Refuge. The burn site is located on Black Brushy Mountain Township 20S, Range 4E, Sections 2, 3, and 4 and Township 19S, Range 4E, Sections 34 and 35., approximately 14 miles northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico. A helicopter will be utilized to ignite an area that is surrounded by natural and physical barriers to fire spread. The fire may last several days, will be managed by a large contingency of ground and aerial fire management resources from several federal, state and local agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and NASA.

At times, large amounts of smoke and flames will be visible from the area, especially when viewed at night.

The objectives of this burn are as follows:

*To protect and enhance wildlife, plant and habitat resources within the San Andres Mountains Ecosystem including strategies that benefit native flora and fauna, the status of the desert bighorn sheep, neotropical migratory birds, and other species of concern.

*To protect and preserve archeological resources and historic sites.

*To increase public understanding and awareness of the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge and the San Andres Mountains Ecosystem through effective interpretation initiatives.

The burn unit is within the White Sands Missile Range and no public access is permitted. An interpretive center will be established at the Refuge Headquarters at Hwy 70 and Santa Gertrudes Dr., just to the east of Las Cruces. A sign which shows the location of this Visitor Center will be located on Highway 70.

Ignition will occur in accordance to a Prescribed Burn Plan with fire behavior and weather prescriptions intended to ensure that fire behavior will be safely controlled and that smoke generated by the fire will not impact smoke sensitive areas. The effects of the fire will be monitored both pre and post burn by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the above stated objectives are met.