Natural Resources Conservation Service
6200 Jefferson NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
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News Release
Contact: Barbara Garrett, public affairs specialist
June15, 2006
(505)761-4406
Conservation Proves Itself at Cuba Fire
Don Moore’s continuing drive to improve his rangeland near Cuba, New Mexico is
attributed to restricting a wildfire that would otherwise have spread into the Los Pinos area.
“I would like to urge other landowners around the village (and throughout the area
generally) to work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Cuba Soil and
Water Conservation District (SWCD), and New Mexico Division of Forestry to get brush cleared
away, to get other plants started, and to get trees thinned away from structures or in open land,”
said Moore. “It is now obvious that doing this sort of work not only improves the appearance
and productivity of the land but it also helps to prevent the spread of wildfires.”
On April 9, 2006 fire broke out at a residence and burned approximately 16 acres of
private land and one structure in the Cuba area. Several fire agencies from Cuba and the
surrounding area responded to the blaze that was being whipped by high winds. Heavy
equipment was used to cut a fire break around the fire, while several homes along Reed Road
were threatened. Evacuation of residences in the Los Pinos Road area was considered, however,
Don Moore’s field that had been cleared of sagebrush prevented the spread of the fire into that
area.
Moore had entered into an Environmental Quality Incentives Program contract in 2002
with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to apply brush management and range planting
to his property. Thus, his field was cleared of sagebrush and not only did not pose the hazard
that the surrounding area did, but served as a barrier for the advancing flames.
“My conservation