GRANTS, NM — In an effort to maintain the health of the forest ecosystems and reduce wildfire risks, the National Park Service has announced plans to conduct a prescribed fire at El Malpais National Monument. Scheduled for late May to early June 2024, the operation aims to treat approximately 1,500 acres on the north side of the monument, adjacent to Highway 53 between mile markers 66 and 63.
In a press release sent by Lisa Ditman with the US National Parks Service, wrote this will be called the El Calderon Triangle prescribed fire. She said this initiative is primarily focused on improving the Ponderosa Pine and Pinyon-juniper ecosystems by eliminating excess vegetation that could fuel wildfires. Fire management officials emphasize that fire plays a crucial role in the ecological health of El Malpais, contributing to the resiliency of these fire-dependent environments.
The execution of the prescribed burn is dependent on optimal weather and fuel conditions, with fire managers estimating that the operation will take between two to five days to complete. During this period, the Continental Divide Trail from the Emergency Operations Center to the El Calderon parking area (mile marker 497 to 500) will be closed, with detour signs posted to guide trail users around the fire area. Parts of the El Calderon Loop Trail will also be temporarily inaccessible.
Motorists traveling along Highway 53 may experience traffic restrictions, potentially reducing the highway to one lane to ensure firefighter safety. The National Park Service advises drivers to exercise caution by slowing down, using headlights, and being vigilant for firefighters along the highway.
Visibility of smoke from the burn will be most noticeable during the warmer parts of the day, Ditman wrote, and may linger in cooler temperatures during the evening. Residents and visitors can expect to see flames as the fire consumes larger, dead, and downed fuels, with smoke and flames possibly persisting for several days after active ignitions are complete.
Following the prescribed fire, it is normal for trees like ponderosa pine, pinyon, and juniper to exhibit scorched, brown, or red needles on their lower branches. This phenomenon, known as scorching, is part of the natural fire effects and beneficial to the ecosystem. Scorched needles will eventually fall, contributing to an increased canopy height and allowing more sunlight to reach the forest floor. This supports the growth of native grasses and helps reduce the continuity of ladder fuels, thus preventing more severe crown fires.
For further inquiries about the prescribed fire or for real-time updates during the operation, the public is encouraged to contact the El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center at (505) 8762783. Information will also be available on the El Malpais National Monument Facebook page and the NM Fire Info website.
More information about their fire management practices can be found at www.nps.gov/subjects/fir e/index.htm.