Courtesy/SFNF

Tres Lagunas Fire Update – June 11

Acres: 10,237 Cause: Human Start Date: May 30, 2013; Containment: 70 percent; Location: 10 miles North of Pecos; Fuels: Timber; Total personnel: 783 and Terrain: steep, rugged.

Summary

Today’s Actions: Mop up, backhauling of equipment, and fire line rehabilitation will be the focus of today’s operations. Mop up includes extinguishing or removing burning material near containment lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned. Firefighters will continue to improve existing fireline and build additional direct fireline on ridges and steep slopes on the east, northeast, and southeast areas of the fire. Resources and equipment are gradually being demobilized.

The road block on Highway 63 at Windy Bridge Day Use Area was removed at noon today. Private landowners who live north of Windy Bridge will be able to access their private property starting at Noon today. The public is reminded that the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District is closed to public entry due to extreme fire danger including the entire Pecos Wilderness.

The District closure pertains to all recreational uses (fishing, camping, hiking, etc.) including recreation resident leasees or permittees on national forest land. For questions about the District closure, please call the Pecos Ranger District at 505-757-6121. NM Game and Fish lands in the Pecos Canyon are also closed to all recreational use.
Due to heavy fire traffic, residents returning to their homes should avoid driving on Highway 63 before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Residents are urged to drive slowly and use extreme caution.

Electricity has been restored to all evacuated areas except for Holy Ghost Canyon. Century Link continues to repair phone lines in the area.

Today’s Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect in the fire area. Hot and dry conditions continue today with temperatures remaining well above normal. Stronger and gustier west/southwest winds are expected today with low humidity.