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## Intermountain Region News Release

Prescribed Fire Planned in Frijoles Canyon at Bandelier National
Monument

LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO: Bandelier National Monument Superintendent Brad
Traver has announced plans for a prescribed burn this fall in Frijoles
Canyon. A 210-acre Burn Unit is located around the visitor center and
Main Loop Trail. This prescribed fire is planned for sometime between
September 17th and December 31^st^, excluding the week of the Balloon
Fiesta. The public will be notified when the burn will occur --with as
much advance notice as possible. "Firefighter and public safety is the
number one priority when conducting any fire management operation in
Bandelier," said Traver.

"This area around the visitor center was last burned in spring of 1991,"
said Traver. "The main objective of this burn is to reduce the threat of
catastrophic wildfire by reducing fuel accumulations around the Frijoles
Canyon archeological sites and CCC National Historic Landmark District
buildings."

"We expect that the fire operations will be completed in four to five
days," added Traver. "We may close Frijoles Canyon to initiate the
burning closest to the visitor center and Main Loop Trail. It will be
reopened as the burning moves up canyon. Several of the trails leading
into Frijoles Canyon will also be closed during the fire operations."

"The primary focus of this treatment will be to burn the dead and down
fuels that have accumulated as a result of fire absence and recent pine
mortality (drought & insect infestation) in this canyon," said Bandelier
Fire Management Officer Gary Kemp. "The canyon wall on the northeast
boundary of the unit is not expected to support fire spread. The canyon
wall on the southwest boundary of the unit may support short, uphill
runs where fuel accumulations are heavy and continuous enough. However,
these slopes will not be targeted for ignitions. If fire spreads upslope
in these areas, it will be contained at the trail that runs along the
mesa-top (from below Frijolito to Upper Crossing)."

"The burn unit has already been mechanically thinned to prepare for this
burn," added Kemp. "We are waiting for drier weather to proceed with the
plans. Things are still too wet to burn right now."

Prescribed fire is one of many fuel treatments used by Bandelier to
reverse changes brought on by fire suppression and other activities that
occurred prior to the Monument's establishment, including grazing and
logging. These past activities have contributed to increased fuel
loading and changes in vegetation structure in Bandelier. Mechanical
thinning (the use of hand tools and mechanical equipment) is one of the
fuel treatments used to thin areas in which prescribed fire may not be
effective. The fuels removed by mechanical thinning are placed into
piles and burned under favorable weather conditions. Although mechanical
thinning is an important tool in fuel reduction, it does not provide the
natural benefits to the forest that occur as a result of prescribed
fire. Prescribed fire benefits include a reduction in fuel loading,
rejuvenation of fire-dependent/adapted species (such as aspen), thinning
of dense mixed-conifer stands, and decreased risks from wildfires. Fire
Use Fires, where natural sources like lightning ignite a fire and fire
managers let it burn within certain parameters while monitoring it, are
also tools used for managing fuels.

This fall's prescribed fire will be conducted under the guidelines of
Bandelier's Fire Management Plan (2005). The Monument works very closely
with other local land management agencies in the planning and management
of these prescribed fires. The policy of using fire as a management tool
will help decrease risks to life and property and help perpetuate the
resource values for which Bandelier National Monument was established.

For more information regarding Bandelier's plans prescribed fires this
fall \-- or for information regarding other fire management projects at
Bandelier \-- call (505)662-7065 or email band_fire_comments@nps.gov.

\--NPS\--

**Notes to Editors:**

(1) In addition to contacting Bandelier's Superintendent, for additional
    background information, you may also contact Gary Kemp or Marla
    Rodgers at 505-672-3861 x550 or 551 respectively

(2) Attached is a PDF file containing a map that shows the location of
    the area scheduled for prescribed fire treatment.

-end-