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Fire crews began ignitions on the North Hart Prescribed Fire in the Valle Vidal today. Here’s the latest:

• Crews completed 450 acres, burning along the northern edge of the unit on Vermejo Reserve. This method is called blacklining, which reduces fuels along a pre-existing control line, in this case a road, before larger areas are treated within the interior of the prescribed fire unit.
• Ignitions are expected to continue Oct. 26, pending weather conditions. Smoke will continue to be produced with wind forecasted to push it out of the area during the day and lay down locally overnight.
• Fire personnel from various partner agencies participated in today’s work: Vermejo Reserve/Colfax County Fire Dept., Red River Fire Dept. the Nature Conservancy/Ember Alliance and National Park Service. Students from the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center also helped.

Project Background

The North Hart Prescribed Fire is an 1,871-acre cross-boundary burn between Carson National Forest and Vermejo Reserve. It’s the first project on the forest that uses a congressionally authorized tool known as a Wyden Agreement to collaboratively conduct restoration work across boundaries to protect, restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.

The unit is about evenly split between Forest Service and Vermejo Reserve lands. The area last experienced fire in 2002 during the Ponil Complex Fire, and this work helps maintain the health of fire-dependent ponderosa stands and grasslands.

Ignition updates are available on InciWeb and by other means. The public can learn more about prescribed fires on the Carson National Forest at fs.usda.gov/goto/CarsonRx.