Fire mitigation project protects archeological sites at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Firefighers cleared brush from four archeological sites in Salinas Pueblo Missions in June 2025. In addition to protecting irreplaceable archeological resources, the fuels reduction work also provided a valuable training opportunity for firefighters building skills using chainsaws.

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El Malpais National Monument fire management staff, Bandelier National Monument fire management crewmembers, and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument staff, completed a 9.5-acre thinning project within the Quarai Unit at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in early June 2025.

The project, known as the Quarai Museum Defensible Space Thinning Project, reduced potential wildfire risk to historic and archeological resources and park infrastructure. The project also reduced wildfire risk to visitors and park staff near the park’s visitor center complex, which also houses some of the park’s irreplaceable museum collection.

The thinning unit included four large archaeological sites, all of which are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Three of the sites had fire sensitive features: a large historic metal can/glass bottle dump, a wooden animal pen, and a wooden corral. Vegetation removal from in and around these archaeological features will provide increased protection from wildfire, better preserving them for the future. Fire-sensitive sites, if mitigated properly and protected during a wildfire, can survive if conditions are right.

A truck adds more brush to the pile after it was cut from archeological sites and from near critical infrastructure in the park. The pile of brush was chipped for easy removal from the area.

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“Certain kinds of archeological artifacts and features are susceptible to damage during and after wildfires,” said Nikki Berkebile, Integrated Resources Program Manager for Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. “Having fuels mitigation work done on these important sites helps protect them in case a fire occurs in the future.”

The fuels work was done with extraordinary care to prevent damage to the archeological sites. Crew members conscientiously hand-carried cut vegetation out of the boundaries of the sites to avoid dragging vegetation and damaging resources. The fence line was cleared to a four-foot buffer and special attention was taken to remove vegetation around utility facilities, such as the park’s propane tank. In addition to protecting known cultural resources in the park, a Civilian Conservation Corps-era wall that had previously not been recorded was discovered after thick vegetation was removed as part of the fuels mitigation work.

The brush that were removed from the sites was chipped into three large containers to be hauled away from the site.

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Additionally, this project provided valuable skills training for current and future wildfire responders. Six fire-qualified crew members – two from El Malpais & El Morro national monuments, two from Bandelier National Monument, and two from Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument – were trained as Type 3 Sawyers as part of this project.

This project was made possible by funds available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.