NMCAF Sotano Prescribed Fire

Last updated: 2024-09-30

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The type of incident is Prescribed Fire and involves the following unit(s) Carson National Forest.

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State: New Mexico

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Coordinates:

Latitude: 36° 25 11.9 Longitude: 106° 10 17.1

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NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations.

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Incident Overview: Crews are looking to begin as early as Oct. 5. The exact day of ignitions will depend on wind, weather and fuel moisture conditions. The Sotano Prescribed Fire is part of the El Rito Canyon Restoration Project to restore forest, watershed and wildlife habitat health, reduce threats of wildfire to communities and infrastructure and increase the availability of personal-use wood products. This unit is 2,365 acres and located to the north of El Rito and west of Vallecitos (map). It is off Forest Road 44 and partially between the 2019 Francisquito and 2022 Midnight Fire burn areas on the west and the 2023 Alamosa Unit 1 Prescribed Fire to the east.Crews will apply fire to the understory of forested areas, targeting fuels on the forest floor, such as leaf litter, downed branches, and brush. The fire may fully burn occasional single trees or stands, which will help create an open canopy. Ignitions are expected to last two to four days. More InformationSmoke ReadinessNew Approaches to Prescribed FireMore about Early Fall 2024 Projects