Planned Prescribed Burns May Affect Los Alamos County Air Quality
On Jan. 5 the Santa Fe National Forest announced planned prescribed pile burns for the week of Jan. 5 as part of ongoing hazardous fuels reduction work, subject to approvals and favorable weather. The burns could produce smoke and visibility impacts that are relevant to Los Alamos County residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions and people traveling near affected recreation areas.
The Santa Fe National Forest on Jan. 5 announced planned prescribed pile burns for the week of Jan. 5, describing pile burning as a treatment for slash created by thinning crews to reduce flammable fuels and protect communities and resources from wildfire. The agency identified specific planned units and visibility notes that included San Diego Egress piles near Ponderosa Road in the Jemez Ranger District and multiple projects near Hyde Park and Black Canyon Campground in the Española Ranger District. All burns were conditional, pending required approvals and favorable weather.
The Forest Service said each pile burn depended on factors such as snowpack, air quality, ventilation, forecast weather and wind, and resource availability. Officials also committed to notifying county emergency management when burning begins, signaling coordination with local authorities responsible for public safety and response. The agency directed the public to the Forest website and InciWeb for updates and monitoring information.
For Los Alamos County residents, the practical implications center on potential smoke, reduced visibility and short-term air quality changes. Prescribed burns conducted in winter can produce plumes that drift depending on wind and ventilation, affecting nearby valleys and roadways. People with asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, older adults and young children are most likely to feel health effects from smoke; drivers may also encounter smoky conditions that reduce sight lines on rural roads.
Recreation users and residents who use trails and campgrounds near Hyde Park and Black Canyon Campground should expect possible activity, road or access changes while crews prepare and monitor piles. Because the burns were described as dependent on real-time conditions, actual ignition dates and times were not guaranteed the week of Jan. 5. The Forest Service encouraged monitoring its online pages and InciWeb for the latest status and any notices to emergency management.
Prescribed pile burning is a common forest management tool intended to lower the risk of larger, uncontrolled wildfires by removing concentrated accumulations of cut vegetation. For residents concerned about smoke or safety, check the Santa Fe National Forest website and InciWeb for current updates, and watch for notifications from county emergency management once burning begins.
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