Panoramic view of the Thompson Ridge Fire taken at 3:30 p.m. today east of Redondo. Photo by Brian McCool
Helicopters get water from Fenton Lake at 3 p.m. today. Photo by Brian McCool
Staff Report
Thompson Ridge Fire
- Time/Date Reported: May 31, 2013, 2:40 p.m.
- Location: 8 miles northeast of Jemez Springs near La Cueva
- Legal Description: T19N, R3E, Sec 9
- Cause: Human, downed power line
- Fuels: Grass, Ponderosa Pine, Brush, Mixed Conifer
- Size: Approximately 1,200 acres
- Percent Contained: 0
- Resources Committed: 4 Type 1 Interagency Hotshot Crews, 1 Type 1 Helicopters, 1 Type 3 Helicopter, 9 engines various other overhead with a total of approximately 108 personnel. The fire is currently being managed by the Northern New Mexico Incident Management Team. The Arizona Central West Zone Incident Management Team assumed management of the fire at 6 a.m. today.
- Today’s Weather: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms in the morning and then numerous showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will range from 64 to 69 degrees and relative humidity between 21 to 31 percent. Winds will be out of the south at 15 to 20 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon with gusts up to 30 mph.
- Evacuations: Homes along Rancho de la Cueva and Elk Valley
- Road Closures: none
- Summary: Saturday, the fire was active with growth around the entire perimeter of the fire. The calmer winds and lower temperatures helped crews establish a hand and dozer line around the western side of the fire. Air support was able to make several water drops throughout the day.
- Smoke: Smoke will be visible tomorrow from Jemez Springs, La Cueva, Ponderosa and surrounding communities. Jemez Springs residents will experience dense smoke tomorrow morning from smoke inversion in the valley but it is expected to lift as temperatures rise. Information on wildland fire smoke and your health can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.
- Acres: 6,249 Start Date: May 30, 2013
- Cause: downed power line Location: 10 miles North of Pecos, NM
- Containment: 0 percent
- Fuels: Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer
- Total personnel: 411 Terrain: steep, rugged
A helicopter gets water from Fenton Lake at 3 p.m. today. Photo by Brian McCool
Tres Lagunas Fire
As of 6 a.m. today, management of the Tres Lagunas Fire was turned over to the Type 2 New Mexico Incident Management Team with John Pierson as Incident Commander. The Incident Command Post is at the Pecos National Historical Park.
Summary: The fire was active on the northwest corner of the fire, which hindered the ability of firefighters to construct or scout for possible areas to construct line in that area. On the northern perimeter the fire crossed Davis Creek and pushed north over Forest Road 646. On the northeast area of the fire, the fire advanced further to the northeast toward Elk Mountain. Progress was made to protect structures in the Holy Ghost Summer Home area. Structure protection also went well along the Highway 63 corridor. The status of evacuations has not changed. To date, no structures have been burned.
Today’s Weather: There is a 40 percent chance of wetting rain is possible potentially bringing up to one tenth of an inch of precipitation. Lightning is possible throughout the general area in and around the fire. Storms could produce gusty, erratic winds.
- Structures/threats: 225 residences and 75 outbuildings
- Road Closures: Highway 63 beginning at mile marker 12, north toward Jacks Creek Campgrounds
- Emergency Closure: An emergency fire closure has been issued for the fire area. For specific information please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/.
- 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, all State owned lands and private, non-municipal, non-federal and non-tribal lands. The Santa Fe National Forest will move to Stage 2 fire restrictions next week, midweek.
- Smoke Outlook: The most significant smoke impacts from the Tres Lagunas fire are predicted to be in the Santa Fe Metro area and areas north towards Espanola this evening as a back door cold front could push potentially heavy smoke west and north of the fire. Potentially unhealthy conditions could occur in these communities as well as communities in Pecos Canyon overnight and into the early morning. During these conditions, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should minimize prolonged or physical activity outdoors. Information on wildland fire smoke and your health is on the NM Dept. of Health’s website https://nmtracking.org/fire.
Calf Wildfire, Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District
The Calf fire is 100 percent contained. Firefighters hit it hard and kept it small. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.
- Fire Name: Calf
- Time/Date Reported: 2 p.m. June 1, 2013
- Location: Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; northwest of Las Vegas.
- Legal Description: T17N, R13E, Sec 13
- Cause: Unknown-under investigation
- Fuels: Mixed conifer, ponderosa pine
- Size: .5 acre
- Percent Contained: 100 percent
- Resources Committed:a seat and an air tanker—dropped 5,000 gals.
- Structures/threats: None
- Evacuations: None
- Road Closures: None
- Summary: Fire was burning in mixed conifer.
- Smoke: White
