Cause - Project Agua Fria Creek off HWY 53 (NM)Park Status - There is currnetly no closures or restrictions in place because of this project.Status as of 11/05/2009
Acreage - 60 acres burned
Project is 100% complete
Resources committed - Currnetly there is only personnel for the El Malpais National Monument fire crew.
Estimated completion date is 11/6/09.
Overview
This prescribed fire was for planned/completed to do two things. Establish and maintain vegetative structure withing Southwestern glasslands. Create a fuel break between the NPS and other land owners (Private, BLM, USFS) within the area. This project is considered WUI for we have private dwelling with 1 mile area.
The last 24-hour activity
Burning operation started on 11/4/09 and was also completed on 11/4/09. The next couple of days is some minor mop-up with the local fire crew and removal of equipment (hose and pumps) used on burn operation.
Vegetation affected
Perennial grass or bunchgrass
Air/smoke issues
A boundary line of the project runs along HWY 53 and seen some smoke impact throughout the project operational period. For this reason we used flaggers and pilot car to keep traffic moving and making the flank safe for project resources to be able to work (engines and lighters).
Benefits of the burn
This is going to remove the amount of brush component that has over populated this project area. This will also rejuvenate the native grasses growth throughout the area.
Values to be protected
El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center and Fire Operations Center, Native American cultural sites and NPS boundary by making the area more accessible to suppression forces in the case of a wildfire.
Partners involved
This was a interagency prescribed burn. We had NPS personnel from: Bandelier National Monument, El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. We also had USFS personnel from Mt. Taylor District. This project also used AD(s) to fill in the numbers required to complete the project.