East Centerfire Prescribed Fire to Commence on Quemado RD

Silver City, NM: March 22, 2012--Pending favorable weather conditions, the Quemado Ranger District on the Gila National Forest is planning on conducting black lining on the East Centerfire Prescribed Fire between March 26 and March 30, 2012, and returning in April to finish burning the interior. Once the black lining starts, the prescribed fire is expected to take a week or so to complete.

Black lining: Before a prescribed fire, black lining is conducted to reburn fuels adjacent to a control line and is usually done in heavy fuels during periods of low fire danger to reduce heat on holding crews and lessen chances for spotting across the control line.

Objectives: improve wildlife habitat, watershed conditions, and reduce fire danger.

Planned acreage: 2,416 (includes 300 to 500 acres of black lining)

Location: in the Centerfire Bog area south of County Road B012, approximately 6 miles northeast of Luna, NM.

Smoke will be visible in the Luna Valley and Armijo Springs area during early morning and evening hours and is expected to decrease as daytime temperatures increase.

Further information: District Fire Management Officer Nate Nozie, (575) 773-4678.

Fire personnel will closely monitor the prescribed fire throughout its duration.