Wolf Draw Fire Crews Dig Control Lines To Stop Spread

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Crews continued to construct control lines around the Wolf Draw Fire, which was caused by an illegal abandoned campfire that escaped the fire ring in a relatively remote corner of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) over the Memorial Day weekend.

The Type 3 Incident Management Team is implementing a full suppression strategy to confine and contain the fire within an area defined by Forest Road (FR) 310 on the north, FR 5 on the east, FR 313 on the south and FR 312 on the west.

Recent moisture assisted firefighters by decreasing fire behavior. Crews Wednesday on priority areas, digging control lines to stop the fire spread. The Wolf Draw Fire continues to smolder and creep along with sporadic single-tree torching.

The west side of SFNF is under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which prohibit dispersed campfires. More than 85 percent of wildfires are caused by human carelessness.

With extreme drought and high fire danger across the forest, visitors are urged to comply with fire restrictions.

Motorists on Forest Road 313, N.M. 112 and other roads in the vicinity of the Wolf Draw Fire should be prepared for increased fire-related traffic.

Start date: May 29, 2021

Location: Approximately 30 miles north of Cuba and 11 miles northwest of Regina on the Cuba Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), Rio Arriba County

Cause: Human       

Size: Approximately 700 acres

Percent Contained: 35%

Resources: 1 Type 4 engine, 2 Type 6 engines, 4 hand crews, 1 ambulance, 1 Rapid Extraction Module (REM) Team, 1 air attack platform, 2 Type 1 helicopters and 1 Type 3 helicopter.

Fuels: Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer

Weather: A slow warming trend continues this week with isolated scattered showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoons and into the evenings. Although the trend is toward drier, warmer conditions, there should be good overnight humidity recoveries this week. Thursday will have warmer temperatures but similar shower and storm patterns.

Values at risk: Private property, oil and gas infrastructure

Smoke: Minimal smoke impacts are expected from the Wolf Draw Fire due to its remote location; however, depending on fire behavior, smoke may be visible from a distance.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. 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 SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website, Inciweb and on the SFNF Facebook and Twitter.

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