The following is a press release from the Gila National Forest Office:

Wilderness Ranger District to Conduct Pile Burning

The Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest, is planning on burning slash piles after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, as weather and fire conditions permit. Piles are located throughout the district.  Objective is to remove piles created by fuels reduction projects in the Wildland Urban Interface, wildfire suppression activities, and flood clean up.

Project locations include:

  • Adjacent to Powderhorn Road (Forest Service Road 151)
  • Adjacent to McKnight Road (Forest Service Road 152)
  • Wilderness Ranger District office  off N.M. State Highway 35
  • Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument administrative site
  • Near the  Cooney Subdivision, along the Mimbres River, near Forest Service Roads 150A (Cooney Road) and 4080T & U.

Smoke may be visible in the areas where the burns are being conducted, and may linger at night and early morning but normally decreases significantly as daytime temperatures increase.

For additional information, contact the Wilderness Ranger District at 575-536-2250.