This is a guest post from Frank Carroll. I think it’s a good illustration of specific concerns that people (including some TSW readers) have about a specific fire.
*************************
Here’s a current example of FS letting burn and expanding the burn policy on the Santa Fe National Forest, Coyote Ranger District. Their aim appears to be to drag the fire into the Encino Vista project area. www.wildfirepros.com
Below is yesterday’s (5/28) thermal hotspot map from #firemappers superimposed on a map of the region. Forest Road 77 is the yellow road at the southern perimeter of the fire, so it seems that the “low-intensity burn” cited may be the apparent firing activity to the south of 77. This firing activity comes within about a mile of Route 96 (the area’s main road) and the Encino Vista Project area.
blue line – Chama Canyon Wilderness boundary
grey area at bottom right – private land
red circle with white flame – location of May 19 fire start
pink line at bottom left – north boundary of Encino Vista Project area
Encino Vista project is just south of this map. It appears the FS is burning south into the teeth of the dominant SW wind to reach their project area and use “emergency fire suppression” appropriated dollars to perform a prescribed fire on a huge scale. Note the red dots with a white center to the south. These are very recent drone strikes.
We’re being played by unilateral decision-making on the fate of public resources. If this thing blows up and escapes, it’s going to decimate a beautiful Southwestern Region PIPO Forest.
**************************************
Frank is absolutely correct in his assessment. “Managed fire for ecosystem benefit” has no place in western national forests. With a few exceptions involving forests that get more moisture are dying, dead or already burnt to a crisp. Mortality exceeds growth in most western national forests.
Tribes, states and private landowners do a FAR better job of managing on their ownerships
The Forest Service could not pass muster with any known third-party forest certification system on Earth. There is nothing “sustainable” about this ecological tragedy.
Frank,
Thank you for sharing, and for caring about the forest. “Playing with fire”, indeed. Hopefully everything turns out for the best.
Remanding the Coyote District to the Santa Clara and Jemez Pueblos can’t happen soon enough.
Remanding the entire Coyote District to the Jemez and Santa Clara Pueblos can’t happen soon enough.