Fund mission essential wildfire risk reduction and hazardous fuels mitigation work in the form of prescribed fire support

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R3-Southwestern Region awarded a $150,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Energy Minerals & Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), a division of the State of New Mexico, on December 16, 2025, under the Good Neighbor Authority program (CFDA 10.691). The award funds mission-essential wildfire risk reduction and hazardous fuels mitigation through prescribed fire support. Work includes holding and securing prescribed fire containment lines, locating and controlling spot fires, using drip torches and other ignition devices to blackline prescribed fire units, and fuelbreak construction including limbing, thinning, and piling. Performance occurs in New Mexico through September 30, 2028. Good Neighbor Authority allows the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with states to conduct restoration services across jurisdictional boundaries, with projects and funding negotiated between the Forest Service and the state agency. All related records shall be retained for three years beyond submission of final financial reports and made available to the Forest Service upon request.

The forest service staff will utilize partner resources to hold prescribed fire containment lines, secure and mop-up of prescribed fire containment lines, look for and locate spot fires and taking control action on spot fires, using drip torches and other ignition devices to blackline prescribed fire units, fuelbreak construction including limbing, thinning and piling, in additional to other activities.