NM Wildfire | Cooks Peak Fire | 2

April 21, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE 2 – Thursday, April 21, 2022

The COOKS PEAK FIRE was sparked by an unknown source upon private land north of Ocate in Mora County, New Mexico on Easter Sunday, around 1615 hours.

The cause is unknown and under investigation by Fire and Law Enforcement officials.

Evacuated Areas –> Canada Bonita, Blatman Ranch

Evacuation Warnings (GET SET) –> Rayado, Sunny Side, Miami, Sweet Water, Philmont Scout Ranch (Colfax County)

CODE RED EVACUATIONS –> http://www.co.colfax.nm.us/government/emergency_management.php (Colfax County)

Evacuation Shelter –> Memorial Middle School, 1236 5th Street, Las Vegas, New Mexico

Evacuation Shelter (Livestock) –> Zamora Arena

Livestock Inspector –> Matthew Romero at 575-643-6805

Health and Safety Resources –> http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program#smokeanchor3

Interactive Smoke Map –> https://fire.airnow.gov/

Road Closure(s) –> County Road A023, Mora

Smoke from the fire may impact the surrounding areas, including Moreno Valley, Sapello to Pandaries and lower Rociada.

There is 150 total personnel still attached to this incident, under the management and coordination of the SWA Type 2 IMT, Team 5.

Approximately, 21,200 acres of grass, pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer have been destroyed.

Fire behavior remains very extreme with running, crowning, torching, and short-range spotting. High winds were forecasted today between 30-40 mph and gusts up to 60 earlier this morning.

A Red Flag warning is in effect until 9:00 p.m. tonight. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist through Friday when winds are expected to reach 70 mph.

For updates, please go to Facebook to follow the Mora County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice

AZ Wildfire | Tunnel Fire | 2

April 21, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE 2 — Published April 21, 2022, Thursday

A wildfire incident named the TUNNEL FIRE was sparked on Easter Sunday, April 17th around 1622 hours burning along US Highway 89, about 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff. It is burning in the Coconino National Forest in Arizona.

Evacuation Info Line –> https://www.coconino.az.gov/2894/Tunnel-Fire

Fire Call Center –> 928-679-8525

County Emergency Fire Alerts –> https://www.coconino.az.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2672

Declaration of Emergency Issued by the Governor’s Office –> https://www.coconino.az.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2670

The fire has destroyed 20,198 acres of dry grass, brush, and scattered pine since it was sparked last weekend. Fire behavior is currently very active and with wind-driven runs.

There is about 371 total personnel assigned to this incident along with copters, hand crews, and an unknown number of fire assets.

A Type 1 IMT has arrived and has begun to provide current fire suppression efforts.

The cause of this fire is unknown and under investigation.

Incident Cooperators include those from the AZ DOF, Coconino County, CCEM, CCSO, Flagstaff FD, Highlands FD, and Summit FD; Inciweb.

Preliminary damage assessments are being provided daily. As of today’s date, there have been 109 properties impacted by fire, including 30 homes burned and 24 with outbuildings being considered as lost.

AZ Wildfire | Crooks Fire | 2

April 21, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE 2 – Thursday, April 21, 2022

The CROOKS FIRE started on Monday, April 18, 2022, around 1000 hours MT.

It is located about 10 miles south of the Prescott-Bradshaw Ranger District near Mount Union on the Prescott National Forest in Arizona.

There are 342 total fire personnel are working to suppress and contain this active wildfire. Incident Cooperators include Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County OEM, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department, and the AZ Department of Forestry.

Fire management is under the direction of the California Interagency IMT, Team 4. It has burned 2,000 acres of thick, dry, dead, and downed brush, Ponderosa Pine, and mixed conifer.

There is still a zero percent containment status.

CODE RED (Emergency Notification System): Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office #928-771-3260 or sign up through their website. https://ycsoaz.gov/publicaffairs/Emergency-Preparedness/Emergency-Notification-System

Crooks Fire Community Meeting: The previous meeting could be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqsH4tAFh2E

The cause has been deemed as “undetermined” and is currently under investigation.

Resources assigned to this incident (3) Type 2 hand crews, (4) Type 1 hotshot crews, (14) engines, (5) copters, and an unknown number of miscellaneous equipment and overhead team.

TX Wildfire | Horseshoe Fire | 1

April 21, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Published Thursday, April 21, 2022

The HORSESHOE FIRE ignited from an unknown cause on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, around 0430 hours CDT.

It is located in the Valley De Oro area in Potter County, Texas.

The Incident Commander is Bob Watson with the Borger Fire Department in Unified Command with Texas A&M Forest Service, alongside incident cooperators which include Potter County FD, TAMFS, Boys Ranch Volunteer Fire Department and Randall County Fire.

Evacuated — Valley De Oro, Communities of Buena vista, Plum Thicket, Horseshoe —

Approximately, 400 acres of short grass and brush have been consumed. Fire resources have reached a 70% containment status.

Fire is burning in rough canyon topography threatening several structures, prompting resources to go into structure protection operations. Aircraft is assisting from above and giving much help to ground resources.

AZ Wildfire | Crooks Fire | 1

April 20, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Published Wednesday, April 20, 2022

There are two wildfires burning at the same time with almost the identical names COOK PEAK FIRE (NM) and this wildfire CROOKS FIRE (AZ). Please see the fire coverage on both of these fires which are under their designated names respectively. – Ed.

# # #

The CROOKS FIRE started on Monday, April 18, 2022, around 1000 hours MT about 11 miles south of Prescott on the Prescott National Forest in Arizona, where 292 total fire personnel are working to suppress and contain this active wildfire.

Fire behavior is currently active, torching, flanking, and running. About 1,600 acres of timber (litter and understory) and chaparral have been destroyed.

Credit: Ansgar Mitchell (4/18/2022) via Inciweb

The cause has been deemed as “undetermined” and is currently under investigation.

The Incident Commander is Cory Carlson with two (2) Type 2 hand crews, five (5) Type 1 hotshot crews, 14 engines, five (5) helicopters, and an unknown number of overhead personnel.

The Southern CA Interagency IMT 4 assumed command at 1800 hours this evening from the Central AZ West Zone Type 3 IMT due to the extreme complexity of this incident and high values at risk.

High valued assets threatened are the following:

Communities of Potato Patch, Walker, and Breezy Pines

Photo Credit: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office

A RED FLAG WARNING was issued on April 19th.

NM Wildfire | Cooks Peak Fire | 1

April 20, 2022April 20, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Published Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Photo Credit: Matthew Garcia, NM Forestry Division, Type 3 IMT (via Inciweb)

The COOKS PEAK FIRE is located in the Las Vegas District, about five miles north of Ocate (Mora County), New Mexico. which was sparked on Easter Sunday, April 17th around 1615 hours.

SHELTER — MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, 1236 5TH STREET, LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO

EVACUATION (LIVESTOCK) CENTER — ZAMORA ARENA

LIVESTOCK INSPECTOR — 575-643-6805

CLOSED ** COUNTY RD A0203 (MORA, NM) **

At the time of this post, there have been 3,500 acres of grass, pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer consumed by the fire. There is an unknown containment status at this time.

About 147 total personnel are assigned to this incident, along with the NM Forestry Division as the Incident Commander.

Fire behavior remains very extreme with running, crowning, torching, and short-range spotting. High winds were forecasted today between 30-40 mph and gusts up to 60 earlier this morning.

For updates, please go to Facebook to follow the Mora County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/moracountysheriffoffice

AZ Wildfire | Tunnel Fire | 1

April 20, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Published April 28, 2022, Wednesday

A wildfire incident named the TUNNEL FIRE was sparked on Easter Sunday, April 17th around 1622 hours MT about 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff, and burning on the Coconino National Forest in Arizona.

The fire has burned about 19,712 acres of dry grass, brush, and scattered pine since it ignited over the weekend. Fire behavior is currently very active and with wind-driven runs.

A national Type 1 IMT is on order.

Resources for this fire are:

(3) Type 1 IMT
(5) Air Tactical
(4) Type 1 Copters
(2) Type 2 Copters
(6) Type 3 Copters
(9) Type 1 Crews
(12) Type-2IA Crews
(1) Type 2 Crews
(2) Wildfire Modules
(27) Type 3 Engines
(2) Type 4 Engines
(52) Type 6 Engines
(3) SEATS (out-of-area)
(7) Additional Type 6 Engines (out-of-area)

The cause of this fire is unknown and under investigation.

Incident Cooperators include those from the AZ DOF, Coconino County, CCEM, CCSO, Flagstaff FD, Highlands FD and Summit FD; Inciweb.

A live stream community meeting was held this evening at 1730 hours MT. You can see the info here on this link: https://www.facebook.com/CoconinoCounty

CA Wildfire | Zacharias Fire | 1

April 17, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

# # #

This post is dedicated to the men and women working today and those who will continue the good fight tomorrow and in the days, weeks, and months to come. – Ed.

# # #

Update 1 – Sunday, April 17, 2022

The ZACHARIAS FIRE started on Easter Sunday on Zacharias Road and Rainers Road, just north of Patterson (Stanislaus County) in California.

Per Media, there appears to be one CHP Officer conducting traffic control activities in this area.

No current official updates are being released by local and/or CAL FIRE resources at the moment.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

#ZachariasFire #CAFires #CAFireSeason2022

Currently, the fire is threatening a nearby business, the Restoration Hardware building on Rogers Road as well as near a farm off Interstate 5.

NM Wildfire | Big Hole Fire | 1

April 12, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Update 1 | Tuesday, April 12, 2022

The BIG HOLE FIRE is located on Belen Bosque north of River Road in Belen (Valencia County), New Mexico, which was discovered on Monday, April 11, 2022, at 1330 hours MT.

NM Forestry, BLM and, the Valencia County FD are in Unified Command overseeing approximately 100 firefighters. They are all also working Incident Cooperators, which include: Forestry Division, Valencia County FD, BLM, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Rio Rancho FD, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department Metro 1 copter and. the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.

The cause is unknown and under investigation.

About 850 acres of bosque have been burned but firefighters still have a zero containment status. However, fire officials are reporting resources are making good progress last night due to securing lines.

Officials say the fire is burning on both sides of the Rio Grande and dozers are being used to create a fire break between the fire and homes, to protect the remaining 200 structures in the area.

(Info via the Valencia FD Facebook Page – Evacuations are voluntary, orders have been lifted as of 4/13/2022 at 1000 hours.)

EVACUATION SHELTER –> BELEN REC CENTER, 305 EAGLE LANE.

SMALL PET SHELTER –> Valencia County Animal Shelter, Phone: 505-866-2479.

Assigned to this incident is a Type 1 helicopter (arrived this afternoon) which was tasked with water drops, dozers.

The preliminary damage assessment remains at 1 home and 18 outbuildings as lost. About 75% of the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area (WWCA) has also been impacted. The building on the property has been saved.

NM Wildfire | McBride Fire | 1

April 12, 2022 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Quote of the Day

“My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place – police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces.” – Sidney Sheldon

Update 1 | April 12, 2022, Tuesday

The MCBRIDE FIRE originated Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 0230 hours MT, located on Gavilan Canyon Road, spreading north through Homestead Loop and Eagle from the high school in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

According to verified sources (Lincoln National Forest) the last update stated the fire has now burned 1,000 acres of grasses and timber on a mixture of state and private lands was heading also towards the nearby airport and mandatory evacuation orders were ordered

Both Internet and power are out in the area as well.

The cause is unknown and being investigated.

EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR:

Ruidoso, north of the Ruidoso High School

Gavilan Canyon Road

Homestead Loop

Eagle Creek

Blue Lake Drive

Mira Monte Road

East of Fort Stanton Road

EVACUATION SHELTER

Carrizozo Schools, address to be updated shortly.

Capitan Fairgrounds (accepting livestock).

Resources include in the response are the following: County, Village of Ruidoso, and Forest Service firefighting resources, and two (2) aircraft. Additional resources have been ordered.

Several unknown homes and other types of structures have been lost. There is a current threat to all other outbuildings and homes.

This is a developing story. More updates as information is received. Please check back for updates.

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