The following is a release from the Gila National Forest Office:
Reserve RD to Conduct Slash Treatment at Sheep Basin & District-Wide Pile Burns
Reserve, NM; October 21, 2013— The Reserve Ranger District, Gila National Forest, is planning on conducting prescribed broadcast burning in the area of Sheep Basin beginning the week of October 28, 2013, weather and fire conditions permitting. The purpose of this broadcast burn within Sheep Basin is to treat slash (branches, trees, etc.) from past thinning projects.
With the onset of winter approaching, the District is also preparing to burn piles at various District locations. These areas will be signed and posted for public awareness.
One can expect to see smoke in these areas during days of ignitions. Objectives of the burn are to reduce wildfire threat by removing fuels created from past/ongoing thinning projects.
Location of the project:
• Sheep Basin broadcast burn is approximately eight miles southeast of Village of Reserve along Forest Road (FR) 141. Pile burning will also occur in this area this winter.
• Rancho Grande Subdivision piles: approximately 7 southwest of Reserve along U.S. Highway 180
• Reserve Administrative Site piles: one mile west of Reserve at the Reserve Ranger District Administrative Site.
• Negrito Fire Base piles: approximately 20 miles southeast of Reserve along FR 141 and FR 28.
• SU slash pit: approximately 4 miles southwest of Reserve off NM12 & FR 578.
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 weather prevails.
Further information may be obtained by contacting District Fire Management Officer Shilow Norton or Fuels Specialist Pete Delgado at (575) 533-6232.
