San Gregorio Fire On Santa Fe National Forest Near Cuba; Public Should Avoid San Gregorio Trailhead And Reservoir

SFNF News:

A fire broke out Saturday approximately 1 mile from the San Gregorio Trailhead parking lot on Forest Road 70 and approximately 9 miles from Cuba.

The Public should avoid the San Gregorio Trailhead and San Gregorio Reservoir.

Start date: July 11, 2020

Cause: Under investigation

Size: Approximately 7.8 acres

Location: Cuba Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest, approximately 1 mile from the San Gregorio Trailhead parking lot on Forest Road 70 and approximately 9 miles from Cuba.

Containment: 30 percent

Fuels: Heavy fuels with a high concentration of dead and down timber and mixed conifer. Slopes range from level forest floor to steep, rocky terrain.

Weather: Very warm conditions continue today with the possibility of gusty showers and thunderstorms over the area later today. There is a 10-20 percent chance of precipitation today with a high of 84° and humidity in the 15-19 percent range. Variable winds out of the northwest will be 6-10 mph. The wet phase of the monsoon should crank up through the rest of the week with greater chances of moisture and gradually cooler temperatures each day.

Resources on scene: Approximately 40 personnel on the ground, including a Type 1 helicopter, 1 Type 3 engine and 3 hand crews. A fixed-wing aircraft is also on standby.

Values at risk: San Pedro Parks Wilderness in the vicinity of San Gregorio Reservoir.

Strategy: The strategy for the San Gregorio Fire is full suppression. The fire is moderately active within its 7.8-acre footprint. The biggest concern for firefighters today is spotting outside the perimeter of the main fire due to gusty and erratic winds accompanying the predicted thunderstorms. High winds could cause the fire to spread rapidly across difficult terrain.

Safety: Members of the public should stay away from the San Gregorio Trailhead and parking lot and avoid all trails within a mile of San Gregorio Reservoir so they do not interfere with fire operations. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!”

Smoke is likely to be visible across the southern end of the Cuba Ranger District. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Fire updates will be posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

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