Final Update |NM Wildfire | Spring Fire

February 6, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SPRING CANYON, NEW MEXICO

UPDATE 3 (FINAL) | 2/6/2021 1845 PT

A wildfire was sparked on Friday night around 2030 hours MST on February 5, 2021, from a human-caused ignition near a structure that would spread into the Lincoln National Forest and near Spring Canyon in Raton, New Mexico.

On Day 1, the fire had burned five acres on Friday, February 5th. Today, being Day 2 – the fire has been mostly contained and hot spots are being extinguished.

Water tenders and dozers continue to overhaul the area within the fire perimeter. Line around the fire has been fully established and continues to hold.

On Sunday, fire crews will continue with mop-up operations and secure the perimeter.

One building was burned.

NM Wildfire | Spring Fire | 2

February 6, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SPRING CANYON, NEW MEXICO

UPDATE 2 | 2/6/2021 1130 PT

The fire initially burned about five acres of ponderosa pine and grasses on Day one, but has now burned up to 17 acres. The containment status at the time of this post is unknown.

Resources include two-Type 6 engines, numerous Volunteer Fire Districts and an unknown number of personnel responding to the scene.

Current weather report is that the temps have dropped to 19*F degrees, with winds at 10 mph and humidity at 45-percent. Skies are clear and sunny. The weather has been forecasted to be 24*F as the high and 15*f as the low for the day. Temps will start warming up to a cool 32*F and higher on Sunday through Wednesday.

New NM Wildfire | Spring Fire | 1

February 5, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SPRING CANYON, NEW MEXICO

UPDATE 1 | 2/5/2021 2215 PT

A new wildfire has been detected in the Lincoln National Forest in Spring Canyon on private land and on Federal lands, that had ignited on February 5, 2021.

The fire has burned approximately five acres of ponderosa pine and grasses. The containment status is unknown at the time of this post.

Resources include two-Type 6 engines, numerous Volunteer Fire Districts and an unknown number of personnel responding to the scene.

The fire was said to have started near a structure near the town of Sacramento which quickly spread to the adjacent Lincoln National Forest. It is located in or near Spring Canyon.

Winds have been reported at 12-30 mph and are causing the fire to be wind-driven. Temps are in the mid 30’s and humidity is around 30-percent. It is expected to remain as such throughout the night.

The Wildfire Log: New Mexico’s The Little Fire

June 29, 2019 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE 1 – JUNE 29 – SATURDAY

Image may contain: cloud, sky, mountain, outdoor and nature

Another wildfire has been sparked by lightning but this fire has been named THE LITTLE FIRE, that is burning on the National Forest System Lands on The Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest in Catron County, New Mexico.

The wildfire started today, which is located approximately 4.5 miles west of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

There has been 222 acres of ponderosa pine, needle cast and grass, which has been destroyed. It is being reported as moving in a northwest and northeast direction. Fire Officials are monitoring the fire and is currently not fully staffed.

Smoke is visible from the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, the Upper and Lower Scorpion Campgrounds and Woody’s Corral.

The Wildfire Log | Spring Fire | NM | 1

June 10, 2019 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

GILA NATIONAL FOREST, NEW MEXICO

Update 1: June 10, 2019 (Monday) – 1000 hours PDT

A wildfire named the SPRING FIRE is burning on the Gila National Forest, about 44 miles north of Mimbres, New Mexico.

About 2,200 acres of timber and short grass have been scorched. This incident is being managed with a strategy other than full suppression without a Type 1 or 2 IMT team. Crews have reached a 10% containment status.

There are 53 total personnel assigned with one crew and five engines.

Total fire suppression and containment costs have reached $136,000.00.

NEW | New Mexico Wildfire | Owl Fire | 1

July 7, 2018 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE 1 | 0815 PDT

Incident Summary

Fire started on June 30, 2018, by lightning about 4 miles northeast of Saddle Mountain and is south of Aspen Mountain near the Flying T trail in an inventoried roadless area on Gila National Forest lands.

Fire fuels include Timber (litter, grass and understory).

Resources

There are currently 276 fire assets assigned on this incident.

Fire Behavior

Fire behavior has been low to moderate with single-tree torching. It has mostly spread is to the north and east while being visible from Alma, New Mexico along the US Hwy 180 corridor through Luna. Those may be able to see smoke from Alpine Arizona and the Rancho Grande subdivision.

Current Status

Fire has consumed 4,018 acres. There is no known containment status at the time of this posting.

New Mexico Wildfire | Sardinas Canyon Fire | 1

July 3, 2018 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SARDINAS CANYON, Mex. – A large wildfire that ignited and showed up on-scene, took off on June 24, 2018, around 1409 hours MDT.

LOCATION

The fire is burning in Sardinas Canyon, about 18 miles southeast of Taos on Camino Real Ranger District on the Carson National Forest.

FIRE STATUS

The fire has consumed 2,307 acres of aspen, hi-altitude mixed conifer and sub-alpine pine. Crews have reached a successful 12% containment status but still focusing on the fire suppression objective of 100%.

Fire Officials have ruled this to be human-caused but its exact point of origin or cause is still being investigated.

Photo Credit | Carson NF – Inciweb

A TFR or temporary flight restriction over the fire is in effect. As reminder : No Drones in Fire Zones as this will cause existing assigned air craft to land and operations cease putting lives and property in danger. #NoDronesInFireZones

RESOURCES

There are currently 164 personnel with the assistance of three crews, seven engines, two dozers, 3 helicopters, 3 water tenders, one grader, one ambulance, one rapid extrication module and a single skidgen.

SOCIAL MEDIA

#SardinasCanyonFire #SardinasCanyon #NMwildfires2018 #CarsonNF #CaminoRealRangerDistrict #Inciweb

New Mexico Wildfire | Pepper Spring Fire | 1

June 27, 2018 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

CAMP WEHINAHPAY, New Mex. – A small wildfire is burning in Pepper Canyon, .5 mile south of Camp Wehinahpay, New Mexico on the Sacramento Ranger District in the Lincoln National Forest.

The fire was detected on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 around 1600 hours MST.

RESOURCES

There are currently three engines and one Interagency hotshot crew assigned with a total of 35 fire personnel.

CURRENT FIRE STATUS

Fire is burning in brush and dead standing trees. It was ignited by lightning and crews have been successful in limited the rate of spread for this fire, holding it at three acres.

The fire is burning in the old scar of the Scott Able Fire.

Behavior is very low intensity, creeping along the ground and burning dead and down logs as well as debris. Rain fell over the fire ground and more is in the forecast in the upcoming days.

New Mexico Wildfire: #SoldierCanyonFire | 1

June 10, 2018 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

MESCALERO, New Mex. – A wildfire was detected on Thursday, June 7th at 1500 hours PDT from an unknown human-caused. It is currently under investigation.

On June 8, the fire had extreme fire behavior with minimal spread.

Location

The wildfire is located about one mile north of the town of Mescalero in Soldier Canyon on BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) tribal lands on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Photo Credit | Joseph Elfelt @MappingSupport

FIRE STATUS

June 10, 2018

247 personnel are assigned to this incident including 7 Type 1 hotshot crews, 1 type 2 hand crew, 7 engines, 1 type 1 helicopter, 1 type 2 helicopter, 2 Type 3 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft as needed.
Minimal fire activity.
The fire has consumed 1,300 acres of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and pinon juniper. (reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping).
15% containment status.
Direct threats to cultural and archeological resources, tribal facilities, rec areas and the Tri-State power lines are currently of concern to Fire Managers.
All evacuation orders have been lifted.

June 9, 2018

Elevated to Preparedness Level 4.
Minimal fire growth overnight.
Evacuation orders lifted as of 1500 hours MDT.

June 8, 2018

1,300 acres. 5% contained.
1 VLAT, 1 Lead, 1 Air Attack, 1 Type 3 Helicopter, 1 Type 2 Initial Attack crew ordered with an IMET en route.
Additionally 2 Airtankers, 2 IHCs (Valyermo, Smokey Bear) ordered.
7 Hotshot crews constructed a fire line directly on the east and west flanks.
Structure protection on numerous homes.
Type 3 IMT as Command.
Air resources, BIA and US Forest Service en route.
Estimated 300 – 400 people evacuated.
Tri-State power company shutting off power to Tularosa Mescalero Ruidoso Downs at 1345 hours to enable slurry bombers can attack the fire.

June 7, 2018

Fire gaining ground near Mescalero in the Sacramento Mountains.
Type 1 IMT ordered and due to arrive on June 8, 2018.
Up to 200 acres and increase fast initially).
Mandatory evacuations in progress for : Blank Canyon, Windy Point, White Mountain subdivision.
US 70 mile marker 270 (Tularosa) to mile marker 248 (Mescalero) closed in both directions.

Photo Credit | FlightRadar

Shelter at Mescalero Community Center, Mescalero Reformed Church, Tularosa Rec Center.
Weather conditions – light and generally from the east at the surface but smoke moving northeast due to mid and upper-level wind direction. Dry storms nearby causing gusty, erratic conditions.
2,554 acres. 0% containment.
Reports fire can been from Santa Fe County, a dark orange bank of clouds far behind the Ortiz Mountains.

WEATHER FORECAST

Thunderstorms are expected for the area that may bring light rain and erratic winds to the fire area. Some crews are on stand-by ready for any new starts that may appear in the area.

Fire danger is extremely high and restrictions remain in place for the Sacramento Mountain Range and Mescalero Apache lands.

New Mexico Wildfire: #BuzzardFire Burns in Reserve | 1

June 3, 2018June 3, 2018 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

RESERVE, New Mex. – A human-caused wildfire named the Buzzard Fire started on May 22, 2018 that is located 10 miles NE of Reserve and north of the Eagle Peak Lookout on the Reserve Ranger District of the Gila National.

Nighttime burnout operations conducted late on Saturday, May 26. Photo by Matias Telles.

Nighttime burnout operations conducted on May 26, 2018. Photo Credit | USFS

RESOURCES

Staffing:

576 total personnel
IC is Steve Millert, SW IMT Team 4, Type 2

Equipment:

11 crews
14 engines
5 helicopters

0600 AM briefing on Buzzard Fire

The men and women who have been working tirelessly meet for a 0600 briefing. Photo Credit | USFS

FIRE TACTICS

Northeastern head: Firefighters had winds to their backs secured fire line and halted the forward spread of fire
Southern side: Winds pushed fire up hill to the west over Eagle Peak

Eagle Peak Lookout Observation platform. Photo Credit | USFS

Air Assets: Air tankers and helicopter water drops aiding in structure protection of the Lookout
Burnout operations aided in securing fire control lines to the west of Deadman’s Ranch
Southwestern side: Firefighters are expected to implement burnout operations on the edge of the fire.

CURRENT STATUS

29,727 acres of timber (litter, grass and understory) destroyed
41 % containment status
Active fire behavior with uphill runs, group torching and short-range spottings
Fire weather forecasted as mild and moist with good RH recovery.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Fire weather created by this fire alone (fires can create heat from large fires that can change or create their own fire weather)
Winds shifted to an easterly direction, created a challenge to firefighters trying to protect Eagle Peak Lookout
Fire suppression being hampered by very dry conditions, gust winds and rugged terrain
$7.1 Million cost-to-date

ALERT-WARNING-ALERT-WARNING

Drone Awareness | Fire Officials cannot express how much this pains them to continue to warn the Public about Air Safety Awareness each time a wildfire happens and seeing the possibility of a drone flying in the fire zone.

No automatic alt text available.

Please take this information to heart. Drone Operators, nothing personally but if you fly in these areas, it will be. Please #NoDronesInFireZones. Seriously, it is all about protecting the lives and properties of those that may be impacted by your decision-making.

Drones fly at the same elevation as air tankers which can cause a mid-air collision
If a Drone is present, all aircraft must land and wait for the air to be cleared of any hazards
If all aircraft have to land, this gives the fire more of an opportunity to grow and therefore put lives, property and ground firefighter lives in danger
Unauthorized flights over National Forest lands may be subject to civil penalties, including fines up to $27,500 and possible criminal prosecution.
Additionally, operators could lose their Drone altogether
Fire restrictions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts-notices/?aid=46143

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