BLM Plans Prescribed Burn Near San Pedro

TAOS, N.M, – Beginning Nov. 9, the Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office plans to conduct an up to 200-acre prescribed burn near San Pedro in two units. The first unit is located on BLM–managed lands in Santa Fe County on the south side of NM Highway 344, approximately 1 mile east of the intersection of NM Highway 14 and NM Highway 344. The second unit is on Verbina Road, to the east of the first unit, on State lands.

This operation is weather–dependent and may take up to 30 days, with completion expected by mid–December. On burn days, the San Pedro will be closed, and all members of the public should refrain from recreational shooting and visiting the area. If you plan to visit the area, check whether it is a burn day by contacting the Taos Field Office or monitoring BLM NM’s social media feeds. Motorists should drive cautiously and reduce speed in the area due to the presence of fire personnel and equipment. It is recommended that the public stay out of the burn area until ignition operations are complete. Camping within or near the burn unit is not advised. 

Smoke from the burn may be visible to surrounding communities. People who are either susceptible to or affected by COVID-19 may have health conditions that make them vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure. For more information about smoke and COVID-19, please visit nmfireinfo.com/smoke-management/.

The purpose of the project is to reduce flammable accumulations of vegetation around the community of San Pedro on BLM managed lands and to improve the health of the piñon/juniper woodland.  

For further information, please contact the Taos Field Office at 575-758-8851. You can also follow the implementation of this project on NMFireInfo.com, on Twitter @nmfireinfo, or on facebook.com/nmfireinfo