Conditions permitting, fire personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Sands Missile Range, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service and New Mexico State Forestry Department will begin ignition of the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge Bennett Mountain prescribed burn prescribed burn
A prescribed burn is the controlled use of fire to restore wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire risk, or achieve other habitat management goals. We have been using prescribed burn techniques to improve species habitat since the 1930s.
Learn more about prescribed burn on Wednesday, May 30. The 12,000 acre burn unit is located approximately 14 miles northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico within the boundaries of White Sands Missile Range managed by the Department of Defense. The area is not open to the public.
Ignition will occur in accordance to a Prescribed Burn Plan which contains fire behavior and weather prescriptions intended to insure that the fire is safely contained within the burn unit and that smoke generated by the fire bears little impact in sensitive population areas. Smoke and flames may be visible throughout the burn operation period especially at night.
Times NewEarlier this spring, fire crews backed by aerial support burned out fuels along the edge of the main burn unit successfully creating a black lined protective barrier.
Times NewThe burn is expected to restore habitat and increase quality and quantity of forage for the refuge
