Capilla (Red Canyon) Rx (Prescribed Fire)

Mountainair Ranger District Plans Pile BurnStarting as early February 10th    Albuquerque, NM – February 8, 2022 – Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews are preparing to proceed with pile burning on the Mountainair Ranger District in the vicinity of Red Canyon Campground pending suitable conditions. The Capilla Project area is located within and adjacent to the Red Canyon Campground accessed by the NM Hwy 131 to FS Road 253. The Capilla Project Area is located approximately 5 miles southwest of the community of Manzano adjacent to the Red Canyon Campground.  The size of this project is 8 acres of dispersed piles.  Visitors should avoid the area during prescribed burn operations for their safety, and the safety of the firefighters. See attached project maps. Winter is an optimal time to burn piled slash and woody debris from earlier forest restoration work because snow on the ground keeps the fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation. Generally, pile burns…