NEWS RELEASE

Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands

2113 Osuna Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

(505) 346-3900

www.fs.usda.gov/cibola

www.facebook.com/cibolanf

twitter.com/cibola_nf

Sandia Ranger District
Tablazon Prescribed Fire

Ignitions complete

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – November 1, 2024 – Today, weather conditions remained favorable to successfully complete ignitions on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NG) Tablazon prescribed fire (Rx) on the Sandia Ranger District. Crews continued with ground ignitions to blackline fuels along control lines and burning of interior pockets of 107 acres on units 4 & 5. With yesterday and today’s operations, fire managers completed the 189 acres of prescribed fire operations on the Tablazon Project area.

With ignitions complete on the Tablazon prescribed fire project, fire crews will transition to a patrol and monitor plan until the fire is called out.

The Tablazon prescribed fire project area is in the Manzanita Mountains. Tablazon is located south of HWY 333, south of Lower Pine trailhead and east of FSRD 462. Map attached.

Residual smoke from the Tablazon prescribed fire may be visible in the surrounding areas of Tijeras, Edgewood, Moriarty and Albuquerque. The Cibola NF & NGs manages all prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state air quality and smoke management regulations. However, smoke may settle into drainages and lower elevations at night. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the www.airnow.gov/.

Some objectives for the Tablazon Rx fire include improving wildlife habitat by creating diversity in vegetation, returning fire to the ecosystem in a controlled and efficient manner, and to reduce fuel loadings/raise the canopy cover base to reduce the likelihood of a crown fire, all while providing for the safety of all fire personnel and members of the public.

This will be the final release on the Tablazon Prescribed Fire unless conditions or the situation warrants additional information.

Announcements and updates on prescribed fire projects will be posted on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and on the Cibola NF & NGs website, Cibola Facebook and Cibola Twitter sites.

For more information on the Tablazon prescribed fire, contact the Sandia Ranger District Office at 505-281-3304 or Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Supervisor’s Office: 505-346-3900.

Forest Service Photos attached: Sandia Ranger District Tablazon Prescribed Fire operations on November 1, 2024