Archive for October 23, 2015
Prescribed Fire Explained
Submitted by John Helmich, East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association
EM Residents,
The following is a letter written to you from Matt Rau, FMO, Sandia Ranger District. This is an explanation of the prescribed fire process. Since we will possibly be seeing prescribed fire in our area this fall, we hope this explains the process that takes place in ‘putting fire on the ground’.
Prescribed Fire
At a recent event we held about prescribed fire, a surprising comment was made: “I did not realize how complex the process is to bring prescribed fire into our forest”. We will very soon be conducting prescribed fire operations in the EM, and so we feel it is the perfect time to talk about the process.
? The process of getting to the point of actually putting fire on the ground is lengthy and has many checks and balances.
? This process starts with deciding what physical, geographical area(s) are of critical importance
? The prescribed fire plan must be current.
? Compliance requirements must be met: smoke/cultural/endangered species impacts, NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requirements.
? Risk management and residual risk in place, acceptable (work sheet completed)
? Will elements of the plan be met? (Preparation work, weather, contingency resources, etc)
? Media and residents notified?
? Critical personnel properly briefed?
? Any circumstances that would stop the plan being put in place?
? What about contingency actions notification?
Once these pieces have been asked and answered, there is yet another check list the ‘Burn Boss’ (lead agency person responsible for conducting the prescribed burn) must conduct the day of the planned burn. If these items are not met, no burn will take place:
? Are ALL fire prescription elements met
? Are ALL smoke management specifications met
? Has ALL current and projected weather predictions been obtained
? Are ALL weather elements favorable
? Are ALL personnel and equipment on hand, operational
? Are ALL contingency resources on hand and checked
? Have ALL personnel been briefed properly
? Have all pre-burn concerns been addressed and completed
? Have media and residents been notified
? Are ALL permits and clearances in hand and current
? Can the burn be carried out per the Prescribed Fire Plan
? Will the prescribed fire meet the plan’s objectives
Unfortunately, this is a lengthy list. But this demonstrates that we do NOT just decide to go out one day and burn some forest land. This process takes many months and years to develop and implement. We hope that this information will reassure you that we take extensive precautions when we conduct prescribed fires on the Sandia District.
Sincerely, Matt Rau, FMO, Burn Boss, Sandia Ranger District
Twitter: @EMIFPA_NM
Buffett, Margaritas Hold Storm At Bay
by John Weckerle
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band in Paradise – Albuquerque, October 20, 2015.
This week, two thirds of the denizens of New Mexico Central Headquarters embarked on a local adventure centered around Tuesday’s first-time-ever Albuquerque performance by Jimmy Buffett and the seemingly immortal Coral Reefer Band (Senior Parrot Correspondent Wilson conceded that he could not produce ID proving that he was of age, despite having reached the age of 42 in Correspondent Years in June, and it would be less fun without access to the entire experience). Given the opportunity, the remaining 67 percent decided to turn the experience into a mini “staycation” and, aligning with a few similarly minded people, decided to make a night of it, and then some.
The day started out with – well, work. Your editor and Senior Music Correspondent Lucy took the latter half of the day off, and met with part of the crew for lunch at BJ’s (Winrock, behind the Macaroni Grill) for lunch and a beginning to the festivities. We were not unpleasantly surprised to find that wine was 50% off and that draft beer was $3.50. We’re not in the habit of seeking out lunchtime happy hours, and we don’t know whether this is a daily event, but those planning a pre-pre-concert interlude might want to check in ahead of time and see if this is a worthwhile stop on the tour. Unlike a number of nearby chain restaurants, BJ’s has not fallen victim to “menu simplification disorder” (another article forthcoming) and has a diverse menu with tasty options available for devout carnivores and non-meat-eaters alike.
Following lunch, we checked in to the Sheraton Uptown – pricey, but we got a bit of a deal, we think – enjoyed another beverage or two, and headed off to the Parrotheads of New Mexico party at the Casino at the Downs, located at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds (by way of the hotel shuttle, which was part of the all no-driving strategy for the evening). Overall, this was a good event, although we will note that the Downs needs to do a better job in ensuring that their events are adequately staffed; the bar was understaffed and wait times for drinks and even light snacks such as French fries were far longer than they should have been. With respect to entertainment, the venue faces serious challenges regarding acoustics, which would require some sound engineering attention, and as a result the performers perhaps did not fare as well as they might have otherwise (would really like to have had the steel drum audible) – although, in the end, everyone seemed to have a great time and that is what it was all about. Still, a little bit of in-house sound engineering help for performers might help the venue in situations where the entire audience isn’t actually focused on going somewhere else. And to be clear: thank you, Parrotheads of New Mexico, for setting this up; it was a blast, and helped enhance the mood.
We then got on the bus to the show – thanks again, to our in-state Parrotheads for setting this up – got out of the bus, and noted that it was still raining when we arrived at the Isleta Amphitheater (formerly the Journal Pavilion), and that the rain was falling just a bit harder. We got into the venue after a rather weird, and probably unconstitutional, separation into lines by gender and a rather detailed pat-down for the men by patters-down who seemed perhaps a bit more nervous than one might expect. With the rain getting just a bit heavier, we visited the concession stand just inside the gate, ordered margaritas – it was, after all, a Jimmy Buffet concert and his first headlining in New Mexico – and paid for them…
And the rain pretty much stopped right about then, and didn’t return at any time during the show.