Santa Fe national Forest Plans Borrego Campground Prescribed Fire
Española Ranger District, NM – The Santa Fe National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations in the Española Ranger District, anticipated to begin on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, pending final approvals. the Borrego campground prescribed fire will cover 399 acres and utilize a ”jackpot burn” technique.
This method focuses on burning concentrated fuel loads – naturally occurring or resulting from thinning projects – under carefully defined environmental conditions. This targeted approach helps confine the fire to a specific area while achieving the desired intensity and spread rate for effective resource management.
Ignitions are scheduled to occur over three days to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities. Residents of Cordova, Chimayo, Cundiyo, and Truchas may experience smoke during the burn. Current air quality facts is available at AirNow online or via their mobile app. Drivers encountering smoke are advised to slow down and activate their headlights.
Prescribed fire is a crucial tool for reducing hazardous vegetation, protecting communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from the threat of wildfires. This project is a collaborative effort involving the City of Santa Fe Fire Department, the New Mexico Energy, minerals, and Natural resource department (EMNRD), and the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC).
Forest Service officials will closely monitor weather conditions before and during the burn. Scheduled activities might potentially be canceled if conditions are unfavorable. Following ignition, crews will focus on patrolling and monitoring the fire area.
Updates on scheduled prescribed fires can be found on the forest website: Santa Fe National Forest, the SFNF Prescribed Fire page,and the Forest Service’s social media channels (Facebook and X). Information is also available on inciweb, the interagency incident information system. County emergency management officials will be notified when burning commences.
