Cerro Grande Escaped Prescribed Fire 2000

In Spring 2000, staff at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico prepared and approved a Prescribed Fire Plan for the Upper Frijoles 1 and 5 Burn Units. This burn plan covered a project area of approximately 1000 acres located in the northwest portion of Bandelier National Monument and adjacent to the Santa Fe National Forest in north-central New Mexico. On May 4th, Phase I of the prescribed fire was ignited and eventually escaped the planned boundaries, becoming known as the Cerro Grande Fire. It ultimately spread into the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, destroying 235 structures and also spread onto lands administered or owned by the Santa Fe National Forest, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the San Idelfonso and Santa Clara Pueblos.

Escaped Prescribed Fire