Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands fire crews are preparing to strategically implement multiple prescribed fires in the coming weeks to reduce hazardous fuels pending suitable conditions. Prescribed fires are utilized to remove hazardous fuels, return nutrients to the soil and improve forest health. Fuels specialists write prescribed burn plans that identify – or prescribe – the best conditions under which trees and other plants will burn to get the best results safely. Burn plans consider temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation and conditions for dispersal smoke.
With fire there is smoke, but firefighters take measures to reduce smoke impacts as much as possible.