Feds Rely on Local Help Fighting Fires on BLM Land

March 05--An extremely dry winter, a drought entering the third year, no rain in the forecast and sequestration has federal firefighters on high alert and relying on the help of municipal and county fire departments to help them with wildland fires where more personnel is needed.

Ty Bryson, Bureau of Land Management Carlsbad Field Office fire management officer, said BLM fire crews have already responded this year to several small roadside grass fires and a couple of salt-cedar fires. He said while the potential for wildland fires continues to be high, the intensity of burning fuels may be less.

"The big fires we had in 2011 burned a lot of the grasses and other fuels and they have not grown back because of the drought," Tyson said. Still, local federal interagency firefighters say they continue to be on high alert as Eddy County enters its windy season without moisture.

Asked what impact the sequestration will have on his agency's firefighting efforts, Bryson said: "We will still use the same (firefighting) tactics. But we are not hiring any seasonal people. When we have to call in for resources we will rely on local help. We work with the Carlsbad Fire Department and use a lot of folks on their days off. We will also continue to rely heavily on the county's volunteer fire departments."

In an effort to minimize the risk of wildland fires, the BLM plans to conduct prescribed burns this month at two locations in Eddy County.

Matias Telles, with the BLM Carlsbad Field Office fire management team, said the prescribe burns are part of a restoration effort to improve rangeland health and reduce hazardous fuels throughout the region.

"The first project will be located 20 miles south of Carlsbad in Owl Draw, just south of White City Road," Telles said. "Smoke from the burn may be visible in Carlsbad and the surrounding area. We plan to burn about 1,800 acres in this area."

Telles said the second controlled burn will be 20 miles south of Carlsbad in Ben Slaughter Draw, just east of Roadrunner Road, also known as Eddy County Road 774, and south of White City Road (Eddy County Road 724.).

Telles said the prescribed burn requirements include having the appropriate weather conditions and the required personnel and equipment on site.

He said measures will be taken to reduce the amount of smoke created by the prescribed fire and operations will be suspended early enough in the day to allow much of the smoke to dissipate before nightfall. In addition, signs to alert the public of the controlled burn operations will be posted.

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