Cabezon Canyon

Cabezon Canyon Prescribed Burn 9/25/2026

Incident Overview
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service will be conducting prescribed‑fire operations on BIA‑administered lands within the Cabezon Canyon project area, located south of Chimney Rock. Approximately 700 acres are planned for treatment during upcoming burn windows. This work builds on previously completed fuels‑reduction treatments and serves as part of the larger 4,100‑acre Cabezon Fuels Reduction and Forest Restoration/Improvement Project.

Planned Actions
Ignitions will occur only when weather, fuel moisture, and resource conditions meet established prescription parameters. Fire personnel will implement low‑ to moderate‑intensity broadcast burning or pile burning—depending on unit layout and conditions—to reduce surface and ladder fuels. These operations will be closely monitored, with firefighters on site throughout ignition and during post‑burn patrols.

Objectives
• Reduce hazardous fuel accumulations across BIA‑managed forest and woodland lands
• Improve forest structure and ecosystem resilience within the broader 4,100‑acre restoration project
• Support long‑term landscape health and drought‑resilience
• Moderate potential future wildfire behavior by reducing available fuels under controlled conditions

Smoke Information
Smoke may be visible in surrounding communities during active ignitions. Evening settling may occur in low‑lying areas depending on weather patterns and canyon topography. Smoke impacts from prescribed fire are typically short‑term and significantly lower in volume than smoke generated during high‑intensity wildfires.

Current Status
No ignition date has been set. Operations will proceed once favorable burn windows develop. Additional updates will be posted when conditions align with prescription requirements and ignition plans are finalized.