GRANTS, NM – The National Park Service is preparing to conduct a prescribed fire on the north side of El Malpais National Monument adjacent to Hwy 53 between mile markers 71 and 69. The East Encerrido prescribed fire will treat approximately 500 acres of NPS lands and is tentatively scheduled to occur in April 2024. Exact dates and times will be determined based on weather and fuel conditions. Fire managers expect the prescribed fire will take two to four days to complete.
The primary objective of this prescribed fire is to improve savannah grasslands and Pinyon-juniper ecosystems by reducing the build-up of vegetation that can fuel a wildfire. Fire plays a natural role at El Malpais and helps ensure the resiliency of this fire dependent ecosystem.
The Zuni-Acoma Trail from Hwy 53 to the Continental Divide Trail will be closed during prescribed fire operations. Additionally, the Continental Divide Trail will remain open for the days where active burning is taking place. If conditions warrant, Hwy 53 may be reduced to one lane traffic to provide for firefighter safety. Traffic restrictions will be determined based on conditions on the days of the operation. Motorists are asked to slow down, turn on headlights, and watch for firefighters working along the highway when traveling in this area.
Smoke will be most visible on days when burning occurs, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger in lowlying areas. Flames may be visible as fire consumes larger dead and down fuels. Smoke and flames can persist for several days after active ignitions are complete.
After the prescribed fire, pinyon, juniper, and other tree species may show brown or red needles on lower branches. This is a normal effect of fire on live vegetation called scorching. The red or brown needles will fall off and help raise canopy height, allowing native grasses and ground vegetation to receive more sunlight and stimulate growth. It also increases the distance between ground and ladder fuels to prevent crown fires.
For questions about the prescribed fire, please call the El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center at (505) 876-2783. Fire information will also be available on the El Malpais National Monument Facebook page and https://nmfireinfo.com. Learn more about what’s involved in planning and implementing a prescribed fire at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/ fire/index.htm.