NPS photo
San Miguel Wildfire in Bandelier Wilderness
Regularly Updated Information on this fire
Over the past several weeks Bandelier National Monument has received many lightning strikes along with significant precipitation. On Thursday July 2nd, fire managers discovered a lightning-caused wildland fire in the Bandelier wilderness by San Miguel ruins, located on the west side of the Monument. In consultation with fire managers and Monument staff Superintendent Jason Lott made the decision to manage the San Miguel Fire for resource benefits. Such fires are allowed to burn and spread naturally when they don’t threaten people or property. “Managing wildland fire in Bandelier requires land and fire managers to balance risks and benefits in an ever-changing environment,” said Lott. “Wildland fire is an essential natural process that is important for the survival of many plants and animals in the Jemez mountains ecosystem.” A wildland fire implementation plan was developed and daily monitoring has been established.
“Wildland fire for resource benefit is an important tool for restoring fire dependent ecosystems,” said Bandelier’s Fire Management Officer Gary Kemp. “As these fires burn naturally, a mosaic is created across the landscape, breaking up continuous fuels into self-checking fire breaks. Managed fires are beneficial to the forest ecosystem, removing dead wood accumulations, and recycling nutrients back into the soil.”
“Under certain conditions, lightning-ignited fire can be used as a management tool to accomplish specific objectives in a land or fire management plan, such as reduction of hazardous fuels, maintenance of healthy ecosystems, and protection of neighboring communities,” added Kemp. “A wildland fire may be concurrently managed for one or more objectives and objectives can change as the fire spreads across the landscape.”
The San Miguel fire has grown to about 75 acres and the fire behavior has been active due to its location in pine stringers and dead and downed trees. Fire size and activity vary with changes in weather, topography, and vegetation. Rain on the evening of Saturday, July 5 and during the day on Sunday, July 6 kept fire behavior very low. With warmer, drier weather predicted over the next few days, the fire is expected to continue to smolder and creep during the morning and overnight hours. Occasional growth and smoke plumes are possible from mid-day through early evening. Currently there are no immediate threats to cultural or natural resource values and no suppression actions are being taken on the fire. The Monument remains 100% open to the public while firefighters actively monitor the fire from the ground and by aircraft.
“We expect this fire to burn throughout the summer,” said Kemp. “We are working closely with the Santa Fe National Forest to manage this fire because it is so close to the Forest/Monument boundary. Varying degrees of fire growth and movement are expected as weather conditions change. The fire will be managed to prevent any threats to public safety or facilities. If necessary, temporary closures of some backcountry trails may occur to ensure visitor safety.”
“Visitors to the park may encounter smoky conditions during late afternoon and evening hours if localized smoke settles over some trails in the Monument,” added Lott. “There are good opportunities to view this fire from the fire tower in the park.”
For additional fire information, maps, and photos, please visit www.nps.gov/fire or call 505-662-7065 x 28.
