Cerro Grande Fire

The Cerro Grande Fire began as a prescribed fire in the Upper Frijoles Units 1 & 5 of Bandelier National Monument. It escaped prescription on May 5, 2000 and became known as the Cerro Grande Fire due to the fire being on Cerro Grande mountain, a prominent geographic feature of the area.

Transcription of Press Conference regarding the Cerro Grande fire
Held May 18, 2000 in Sante Fe, New Mexico, with Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire Investigation Report
Delivered to the Secretary of Interior, Bruce Babbitt on May 18, 2000

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Investigation Team
• National Park Service Fire Management
• Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire - Implementation Details
• Findings and Recommendations
• Conclusions

1	List of Team Members and Liaisons
2	Delegation of Authority for the Investigation Team
3	Upper Frijoles Units 1 &5 Prescribed Fire Plan
4	Cerro Grande Wildland Fire Situation Analysis
5	Staff Organization Charts for Bandelier NM
6	Validation of Prescription Parameters
7	Summary of Weather Information
8	Events Leading up to the Escape of the Upper Frijoles Units 1 & 5 Prescribed Fire
Complete Report in PDF Format. (8.5MB)

Figures

Fire Management Planning and Policy Documents
These documents are referenced in the Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire Investigation Report  released on May 18, 2000

Wildland Fire Management Plan - Bandelier National Monument

• Appendices A - E
  Organization, Maps, Procedures - (1.6 MB)
• Appendix F
  Cooperative Agreements - (2.6 MB)
• Appendix G
  Environmental Assessment - (2.0 MB)
• Appendices H - J
  Prescribed Fire Documents, Prescriptions, Research and Monitoring Plans - (1 MB)
• Appendices K - P
  Line Officer Documentation, Species List, Prescribed Fire Schedule, Prevention Plan, Interagency Contacts, Pre Attack Plan, Vicinity Map - (1.4 MB)

Management Ignited Prescribed Fire Burn Plan
Bandelier National Monument Burn Unit -- Upper Frijoles 1 and 5

Director's ORDER #18: Wildland Fire Management
DO#18 underwent review and revision following the Cerro Grande Fire, the linked document is the current version.

Reference Manual #18: Wildland Fire Management
RM#18 underwent review and revision following the Cerro Grande Fire, the linked document is the current version.

Other Relevant Documents

Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire Independent Review Board Report
May 26, 2000

United States General Accounting Office Testimony   Fire Management: Lessons Learned From the Cerro Grande (Los Alamos) Fire
July 20, 2000

United States General Accounting Office Testimony   Fire Management: Lessons Learned From the Cerro Grande (Los Alamos) Fire and Actions Needed to Reduce Fire Risks
August 14, 2000

National Academy of Public Administration Report: Implementation of the Federal Wildland Fire Policy, Phase I
December 2000

Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire Board of Inquiry Final Report
February 26, 2001