Notes from the Guild’s winter prescribed fire crew

Written by Sam Berry

In the winter of 2023 – 2024 the Guild partnered with the US Forest Service Southwest Regional Fuels Program to host our third season of a winter prescribed fire crew. This was a welcome return after taking a break in the winter of 2022 following the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fires. This 3-person crew supported winter pile burning across boundaries in northern New Mexico and worked on fuels mitigation projects. Winter pile burns often happen on short notice to catch winter storms or brief windows of good smoke dispersion so having a crew available on short notice is crucial. This crew also continues the professional development of some of our fall Fire and Fuels Youth Corps Crew members, giving them important training and experience to take into their careers. 

You can learn more about the crew’s experience in their own words, in a story map developed by the crew leader, Sam Lynch, and in blog posts by each of the crew members, Jose Ramirez, and Javi Cordova.   

The crew is wrapping up this spring and I’m so appreciative of all the hard work they put in and hope to stay in touch as they move on. Who knows, maybe we’ll get them back working for the Guild again soon!