Fire

Friday Fire Restrictions Affect 21 Counties

by

NM State Forestry Wildland News:

Due to high fire danger across parts of the state, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary John Bemis and State Forester Tony Delfin today announced restrictions on fireworks, smoking, campfire and open-fires for all or portions of 21 counties.

The restrictions will go into effect at 8 a.m. Friday, June 8.

“Very high fire danger exists across much of western and parts of central New Mexico,” Delfin said. “I’m urging all residents in the areas affected to follow the restriction guidelines to protect lives and property in their communities.” Read More

Colorado Peak Fire 80 Percent Contained

by

SFNF News:

Colorado Peak Fire: 245 acres (decrease in size due to better mapping), 80 percent contained. The Colorado Peak fire is located on the Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 10 miles northwest of the Santa Fe Airport

Bear Springs Fire: 622 acres, 90 percent contained. The Bear Springs fire is located on the Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; six miles northeast of Ponderosa and six miles southeast of Jemez Springs.

The Santa Fe National Forest had no new fires today. Red flag conditions — hot, dry and windy conditions are expected tomorrow. Read More

Colorado Peak Fire 65 Percent Contained

by

SFNF News:

Colorado Peak Fire reported at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday approximately 10 miles northwest of the Santa Fe Airport has burned 269 acres (decrease due to better mapping) and is now 65 percent contained.

Firefighters worked through the night to contain the fire. Sparse, patchy fuels and an aggressive fire fight have helped to contain the fire.

A decrease in fire activity has also decreased smoke. Minimal smoke is expected today.

For information on how to protect yourself from smoke visit: https://nmtracking.unm.edu/eh_alerts/.

The public can obtain fire information via the following: Read More

Extreme Fire Danger Conditions Surround Forest

by

SFNF News:

The fire danger on the Santa Fe National Forest is currently EXTREME. During times of extreme fire danger, fires start quickly, spread furiously and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious.

FIRE DANGER DESCRIPTIONS

A fire danger rating is established locally for each public land unit in the Southwest Area. These danger ratings are based on fuel types (i.e. grass, brush, slash, or timber), fuel moisture content (i.e. 10-hour fuel sticks), weather (i.e. precipitation, relative humidity, temperature, cloud cover, etc), station elevation, among others. Each afternoon Read More

Colorado Peak Fire Captured Across the County

by

Colorado Peak Fire shot Wednesday from Overlook Park in White Rock. The fire was reported at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday in the Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 10 miles northwest of the Santa Fe Airport and had grown to 360 acres as of the last report issued Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Los Alamos Daily Post will publish the next update on this fire as soon as it is received from the forest service, which should be soon. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

Colorado Peak Fire shot Wednesday from Pajarito Acres in White Rock. Photo Read More

Colorado Peak Fire – Evening Update

by

SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST News
Colorado Peak Fire
Evening Update

Fire Name: Bear Springs

Time/Date Reported: 2:36 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Location: Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 10 miles northwest of the Santa Fe Airport

Legal Description: T17N, R7E, Sec 30

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Fuels: Piñon/juniper, slash and brush. The Caja del Rio plateau has open, patchy vegetation.

Size: 360 acres

% Contained: 0

Resources Committed: 156 personnel including: 3 Type 1 crews, 4 Type 2 crews, 3 engines, 2 Type 1 helicopters, and 2 dozers.

Today’s Read More

Bear Springs Fire: Firefighters Execute Successful Burnout Operation Today

by

SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST News
Bear Springs Fire
June 6, 2012 – 9 p.m.

Summary: The relatively low intensity burnout tactic used today was very successful, leaving no significant pockets of unburned fuel and no spot fires. Residual spot fires from last night’s operations were detected and suppressed. The burnout was very clean, resulting in little to no impact to natural and cultural resources. At times, smoke was voluminous due to burning in heavy fuels, but areas with lighter fuels produced very little visible smoke.

Enough progress was made today that some crews will be released tomorrow, Read More

Breaking News: Fire 8 miles south of White Rock

by

This fire is now visible from Los Alamos.

 

Santa Fe National Forest Fire Management Information
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Below is fire information regarding the Colorado Peak Fire that was discovered today. The fire is located in the Caja del Rio on the Santa Fe National Forest between Cochiti and Santa Fe.

Today residents from north of Albuquerque to Santa Fe will see smoke. Fuels on the ground are dry due to the lack of moisture and are creating a fair amount of smoke. The Colorado Peak Fire is at 50 acres and moving north. Firefighters and a helotanker are entroute.

Colorado Peak Fire, Espanola Read More

Bear Springs Fire June 6 Update

by

SFNF News:

Firefighters hope to gain the upper hand on the Bear Springs Fire with burnout operations today.

The fire, which began at 6:36 p.m. June 3 is burning in the Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest, six miles northeast of Ponderosa and six mile southeast of Jemez Springs.

A lightning strike caused the fire, which has burned 400 acres of mixed conifer and ponderosa pine to date.

The fire is 10 percent contained as 190 personnel including four Type 1 crews, three Type 2 crews, three engines, one Type 1 helicopter, three Type 3 helicopters, two water tenders and two dozers battle the Read More

Bear Springs Fire Update – June 5 Evening

by

FIREFIGHTERS PREPARE CONTINGENCY LINES FOR BURNOUT OPERATIONS ON WEDNESDAY

Today, crews prepared indirect containment lines for tomorrow’s activity, which will consist of introducing fire on ridge tops north of the fire, and allowing the fire to back downhill to the indirect containment lines. This tactic, called a burnout, will reduce or remove fuel in advance of the fire front, leaving little or nothing to burn.

The historical Bear Springs cabins have survived the fire thus far, although fire approached the cabins today. Structure protection crews removed fuel around the cabins yesterday, Read More