The Los Alamos Daily Post spoke to the Santa Fe National Forest Public Affairs Office to obtain an update on the Bear Springs Fire.
As of 10:20 a.m. today, the fire has grown to 200 acres. Forest Road 266 is being used as a barrier.
The fire is burning hottest at the north east portion of the fire. There are some forest service unused historic structures in the area.
Protection has been provided to these resources. Firefighters are making progress, but the fire is still at 0 percent contained.
Paul Delmerico’s Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire at 9 p.m. Monday.
The Bear Springs Fire Information Center is at the Walatowa Visitor Center on Highway 4 in Jemez Pueblo.
The phone number is: (575) 834-2200. The information center will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
NOON UPDATE:
Fire Name: Bear Springs
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: 200 acres. Yesterday’s rain had little effect on the fire
% Contained: 0
Resources Committed: 180 Personnel
Today’s Weather: 80 degrees, sunny to cloudy, relative humidity 21-26%, winds 12-17 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.
Summary: Paul Delmerico’s Type 3 Team assumed command of the Bear Spring fire at 9 pm last night. Indirect attack, creating containment lines away from the main fire is being used to keep firefighters safe due to steep, rugged terrain. Roads and other natural barriers are being used as contingency lines. In addition, parts of last year’s Las Conchas and Guacamalla burned areas to the north may also be used if the fire continues to grow.
Since yesterday the fire grow very little due to spotty rain, higher humidity’s, lower winds and cooler temperatures. “We will continue to create indirect containment lines and increase containment,” said Delmerico “We will continue to aggressively work to put this fire out, while keeping an open eye for new starts from yesterday’s lightning storm,” concluded Delmerico. Approximately 1,100 lightning strikes occurred over the Forest yesterday afternoon.
As temperatures increase throughout the day, more smoke from the fire will be released. Smoke is visible from Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, San Ysidro, Bernalillo, Cuba, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, NM Hwy. 4, NM Hwy. 550 and I-25. 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
