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, reducing the risk to the structures.
Southeast winds this morning switched to the northwest this afternoon, resulting in numerous spot fires outside indirect containment lines on the southeast side of the fire. All spot fires were successfully suppressed.
Transport winds this afternoon were from the northeast, causing smoke to drift to the southwest. Smoke was visible from Jemez Pueblo and San Ysidro.
Information on wildland fire smoke and your health can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at:
http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/documents/Health_Effects_Smoke_06152010.pdf.
Start Time/Date 6:36 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2012
Location: Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe NF; 6 miles NE of Ponderosa, NM and 6 miles SE of Jemez Springs, NM.
Legal Description: T17N, R4E, SWNE Sec 31
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Mixed conifer, ponderosa pine
Size: 400 acres
Containment: 10 %
Resources Committed: 190 personnel: 4 Type 1 crews, 3 Type 2 crews, 3 engines, 1 Type 1 helicopter,
3 Type 3 helicopters, 2 water tenders, 2 dozers
Today’s Weather: 85 degrees, sunny to cloudy, relative humidity 20%, winds southeast 10 mph
Structures/threats: Cultural Resources and Historic Structures
Evacuations: None
Road Closures: FR 266
Closures: Paliza Campground is closed
Fire Restrictions: Forest users are reminded that Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place on the entire Santa Fe National Forest, the Valles Caldera National Preserve, and NM Dept. of Game and Fish lands.
