Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Fire visible driving west from Pojoaque early Saturday evening. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Acres: 20,687; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 40 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 21 crews, 52 engines, 35 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 1,023  and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Summary: Fire intensity increased significantly along the slopes just west of the Valles Caldera headquarters historic district yesterday afternoon. To slow its progress, aerial burnout operations began just before sunset along a ridge southwest of the established fire. A spot fire from the interior became established on the North side of South Mountain outside of the containment line. Fire personnel will now prepare N.M. 4 from approximately 1.5 miles east of Forest Road 10 to the Valles Caldera main gate and along Valles Caldera Road 01 for burnout operations.

Effective 6 a.m. today, June 9, 2013, N.M. 4 will be closed at the junction of State Route 126 to the junction of State Route 501. Residents in and around Sierra los Pinos are permitted entrance and exit along N.M. 4 south to Jemez Springs. No traffic will be allowed to travel along N.M. 4 east of Forest Road 10.  Residents must show their identification to gain re-entry. There are no additional evacuations at this time. Evacuations remain in effect for Thompson Ridge, Rancho de la Cueva and Elk Valley.

As the weather warms today, expect to see active fire behavior and a column of smoke.

All points of entry to the Valles Caldera National Preserve are closed to public access due to fire activity. The Fenton Lake State Park is also closed to the public.

For more information regarding the fire, visit www.inciweb.org or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ThompsonRdgFire. Additional photos and information are available at www.facebook.com/ThompsonRdgFire and www.flickr.com/ThompsonRdgFire.

For more smoke information and air quality forecasts, visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s website at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb and https://nmtracking.org/fire.