Despite the spring winds and the temperature heating up, it’s fire mitigation season in New Mexico. The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands division is seeking comments for the proposed North Sandia Fuels Reduction Project. The project is proposing several ways to restore, maintain, and improve forested conditions on approximately 2,956 acres in the Sandia Ranger District including Sandoval and Bernalillo counties, and the Sandia Mountain communities, north of I-40.
The North Sandia Fuels Reduction Project includes reducing the impacts of high-severity fires like under-brush cleaning and reducing wildfire risk to communities near the areas such as Tijeras, Placitas and communities along North Hwy-14. In practice, that plan will reduce the risk of catastrophic fire using hand and mechanical treatments and prescribed fires throughout the area.
Maps for the North Sandia Fuels Reduction Project can be found on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands project page at fs.usda.gov/project/cibola/?project=65654
Get involved
Forest Service officials are asking the public to submit their comments on the proposed plan. All comments are due no later than May 3 at 5 p.m.
Written comments must be submitted to District Ranger Crystal Powell, ATTN: North Sandia Fuels Reduction Project, Sandia Ranger District, 11776 HWY 337, Tijeras, New Mexico 87059.
Online comments must be submitted using the online CARA comment form. The form can be accessed by clicking ‘Comment/Object on Project’ under ‘Get Connected’ on the right side of the project page.
To make an oral comment, call Brittany Lewellen, Planning Program Manager/Project Lead at 505- 274-4519. Oral comments must be provided during normal business hours, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.