By KRWG News
Ruidoso – Two prescribed burns are to be implemented beginning November 13-19, 2010, on the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts of the Lincoln National Forest.
The Poult/Gobbler prescribed burn is 174 acres in size and located in Turkey Canyon just south of Ruidoso Downs and north of the Mescalero Apache Reservation. The Rail Splitter prescribed burn is 1,200 acres and located south of the Weed community on the west side of Highway 24.
Weather conditions will be monitored throughout the burn period to ensure fuel conditions, weather conditions such as wind, temperature, and relative humidity are met prior to ignition. Burning will be conducted during the daytime and smoke will be visible from the Pinyon, Weed, Sacramento and Ruidoso Downs communities. Residual smoke is expected to drift into canyons in the residential areas of Ruidoso Downs.
The goal of the prescribed burns is to reduce hazardous fuels around the Wildland Urban Interface and reintroduce fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
When any burning begins, signs will be posted along roadways, which may be affected by smoke. Motorists are urged to use caution. As always, firefighter and public safety are the top priority.
For more information please call Smokey Bear District Office at 575-257-4095, or the Sacramento Ranger District Office at (575) 682-2551, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Smokey Bear address is: 901 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM, 88456, and the Sacramento Ranger District Office, 4 Lost Lodge Road, Cloudcroft, NM, 88310.
For more information on the Lincoln National Forest, please review our updated web site at: www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln or for the latest fire information, follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/lincolnsmokey.