Lincoln National Forest Prepares for Prescribed Burning on Smokey Bear Ranger District
January 28, 2026 (Ruidoso, NM) — The Lincoln National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations in the Smokey Bear Ranger District, January 29 through February 1, contingent on favorable conditions and required approvals. This multi-day operation will proceed only as weather conditions and staffing allow. Prescribed fire is a critical tool used to reduce overgrown vegetation, helping protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from extreme, high-severity wildfires.
Planned prescribed pile burn treatments:
Ruidoso Tower Prescribed Pile Burn: approximately 10 acres of hand piles located around the Ruidoso Lookout Tower on the Smokey Bear Ranger District. Map attached.
McBride Prescribed Pile Burn: approximately 10 acres of hand piles are located within the McBride Fire Scar. Map attached.
For public safety, these areas may be closed to the public for several days. Please watch for warning signs posted along roads and trails near all prescribed fire areas before and during operations. In the days following ignitions, personnel will continue mop-up operations to extinguish remaining hot spots and secure the fire perimeter, preventing rekindling.
Smoke and Safety Precautions
Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed fire in the communities of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Hondo Valley, and Alto, NM. For detailed information about air quality, visit fire.airnow.gov.
When driving through smokey areas:
Slow down!
Turn on headlights
Using hazards in areas of heavy smoke to improve visibility for other drivers.
Prior to and during implementation, we evaluate weather conditions and staffing will be carefully evaluated to ensure safe and effective operations. Ignitions will only occur if conditions are favorable. If conditions are not favorable, scheduled prescribed fire activities will be postponed or canceled.
Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website and social media channels.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
