Location: 17 miles east of Carson City, Lyon Co., NV
Specific location: near the junction of Como Mine Road and Dayton Valley Road in the Pinenut Mountains
Date of Origin: 05/08/2008 at 1455 hrs.
Cause: an excavator that knocked out a power pole.
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 225
Size: 367 acres
Containment: 20 %
Fuels Involved: Pinion and juniper, sagebrush
Summary: The Como fire is reported to have “lain down” overnight. A multi-agency communications site (Rawe Peak communications site) and sage grouse habitat remain threatened.
May 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Nevada
Location: 30 miles west of Red Bluff, Tehama Co., CA
Specific Location: Colyear Springs Rd. and Franklin Point
Date of Origin: May 6, 2008 8:45 pm
Current Situation 05/09/08
Total Personnel: 264+
Size: 1,331 acres
Percent Contained: 95%
CalFire outlook is for full containment today.
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Current Situation 05/08/08
Total Personnel: ~250
Size: 2,000 acres
Percent Contained: 55%
Summary: from the Red Bluff Daily News [here]
A controlled burn started Saturday to clear brush and provide range improvement 35 miles west of Red Bluff near Red Bank and just east of Colyear Springs roads escaped sometime between Saturday and Tuesday, burning 1,057 acres as of Wednesday afternoon, said CalFire Public Information Officer Mickie Jackez.
“(The owner) was unable to control the burn because of high winds and steep terrain,” Jackez said.
The winds Wednesday, estimated at 10-15 mph with higher gusts, were a concern for firefighters. The remote location and steep terrain with heavy brush also played into controlling the fire.
The owner brought in six bulldozers and two water tenders in an effort to regain control. The fire was reported to CalFire at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. The agency put 235 personnel and two helicopters dropping water and fire retardant on the fire, Jackez said. Tehama County Fire Department and California Department of Corrections assisted.
There have been no injuries or structures damaged as of Wednesday and CalFire notified all owners of homes and cabins in the area except for one, which is unoccupied, Jackez said.
From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the fire went from 5 to 60 percent contained, Jackez said. Firefighters built a line around the fire to contain it for the night and continue to reinforce that line today.
May 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: California
Location: Pecos Co., TX
Specific location: 30 miles SE of Fort Stockton off Hwy 285.
Date of Origin: 04/30/2008 at 1732 hrs
Cause: Downed power line
Situation as of 05/06/08
Total Personnel: Not available
Size: 98,200 acres
Percent Contained: 90%
Estimated Containment Date: 05/06/2008 at 1800 hrs
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Current Situation 05/03/08
Total Personnel: 62
Size: 96,700 acres
Percent Contained: 30%
Fuels Involved: 2.5 feet tall grass with a medium brush component. Heavy fuels in the drainages and north slopes.
Crews are working to put in a contingency line on the north side of the fire in order to protect the windmill farm. Air resources cooled the line and allowed the crews to make direct attack on the fire.
Oil wells, critical infrastructure, ranches, houses and outbuildings are all threatened by this fire.
To date in 2008 Texas has experienced about 150 fires, and close to 800,000 acres have burned. Most of the acreage has been grass. The Texas Forest Service has been the lead agency in fighting the Texas fires, although Federal IMT’s have participated in many cases. The larger fires (5-digit acreages) are listed below with acres and date of containment:
Cathedral Wildland Fire — 23,000 (still active)
Borden County Complex Wildland Fire — 15,000 — 4/15/2008
Ellison Fire Wildland Fire — 16,000 — 4/14/2008
Porter Wildland Fire — 51,400 — 4/5/2008
Highway 322 Wildland Fire — 67,500 — 4/5/2008
Eighty-two Wildland Fire — 33,037 — 4/5/2008
Glass Wildland Fire — 220,000 — 4/5/2008
Burns Ranch Wildland Fire — 25,600 — 3/23/2008
Dana Wildland Fire — 10,000 — 3/21/2008
Snyder Complex Wildland Fire — 28,625 — 3/18/2008
Silver Wildland Fire T — 20,200 — 3/18/2008
Archer County Wildland Fire — 13,548 — 3/2/2008
May 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Other States
Location: 3 miles southeast of Mescalero, Otero Co., NM
Date of Origin: 05/01/08 11:15 AM
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Situation as of 05/09/08
Total Personnel: 321 (reported Thurs. by AP)
Size: 3,860 acres
Percent contained: 80 %
The Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team will transition to a Type 3 organization with Dave Koch as Incident Commander. Approximately 140 firefighters will remain on the South Tularosa Fire. (reported Wed. by InciWeb)
Red Flag Weather Warning Fri and Sat for high winds S and SW 15 to 20 mph gusting to 40 mph
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Situation as of 05/07/08
Total Personnel: 461, transitioning to ~140
Size: 3,860 acres
Percent contained: 70 %
The Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team will transition to a Type 3 organization with Dave Koch as Incident Commander. Approximately 140 firefighters will remain on the South Tularosa Fire.
New Mexico remains on Red Flag Warning for strong winds.
Current Wind Conditions 35 mph SW
Current Temperature 74 degrees
Current Humidity 10 %
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Situation as of 05/06/08
Total Personnel: 500
Size: 3,860 acres
Percent contained: 65 %
Red Flag Warning (from noon until 8:00 p.m.) for high winds and dry conditions.
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Situation as of 05/05/08
Total Personnel: 468
Size: 3,860 acres
Percent contained: 45 %
Looking down South Tularosa Canyon toward the village of Mescalero.
Credit: Arnie Friedt, InciWeb
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Situation as of 05/04/08
Total Personnel: 315
Size: 3,200 acres
Percent contained: 35 %
Update: The South Tularosa Wildland Fire is now listed on InciWeb. The Southwest Area Type I IMT (Vanbruggen) assumed management of the fire at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 2. The fire started in South Tularosa Canyon on Thursday, May 1 and grew quickly due to extremely dry fuel and Red Flag wind conditions. The fire is burning on Mescalero Tribal lands. Air resources available include three on-call air tankers located in Alamogordo and two air attack planes that will monitor the fire activity and one helicopter for incident support. Significant winds are expected to continue throughout this afternoon and may hamper control efforts. Mescalero Tribal lands are under Class 5 Fire Restrictions reflecting the severely dry conditions in the area. Residents and visitors are strongly urged to observe all of the fire restrictions including instructions to smoke only inside buildings and closed vehicles and to be particularly alert during other activities that may start fires. Residents who were asked to evacuate on the night of May 1 have been allowed to return to their homes and the temporary closure of State Highway 244 has been lifted.
Actions: Firefighters on Saturday worked to contain multiple spot fires around the perimeter of the fire on the south and east flanks. Air tankers assisted with one spot fire near State Highway 244 on the north side of the fire.
Fuels: Southwestern edge of the fire includes ganbel oak component. Canopy cover in the timber fuels (ponderosa pine mixed with Douglas-fir) ranges from 60 to 80% and is able to sustain active crown fire within timber fuel types.
Current Wind Conditions: 10-15 mph SE
Current Temperature: 55-60 degrees
Current Humidity: 12-18 %
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Situation as of 05/03/08
Total Personnel: ???
Size: 5,000 acres
Percent contained: ???
High winds have been hampering fire fighting efforts. No info or mention of this fire on InciWeb, although this is a Federal agency fire (BIA). No info available at the Southwest Coordination Center either.
Evacuation have been lifted for residents in South Tularosa Canyon and Mudd Canyon. The BIA reported no homes or buildings were lost as of Friday morning, and the fire had moved to an area where it wasn’t threatening any homes.
Highway 244 has been opened.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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Situation as of 05/02/08
Total Personnel: ???
Size: 1000+ acres
Percent contained: ???
Summary: Fire is on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. Firefighters report wind driven flames with crowning in timber. Road 244 east of the fire has been closed. Threats to approximately 40 structures and outbuildings.
May 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: New Mexico
Location: northeast side of Washoe Valley 15 miles south of Reno
Date of Origin: 04/29/2008 PM
Cause: powerline downed Tuesday afternoon by fierce winds
Situation as of 04/30/08
Total Personnel: 250
Size: 962 acres
Percent contained: 75 %
Full containment was expected by nightfall.
Summary: Though conditions remained breezy Wednesday, the wind was tame compared to the 70 mph gale-force winds Tuesday. The fire briefly forced the closure of U.S. 395, the main highway between Reno and Nevada’s capital, Carson City, during the evening rush hour. Students at an elementary school in nearby Pleasant Valley also were evacuated as a precaution.
Firefighters were able to keep the flames from four hillside homes, though a pump house and shed were burned. Five firefighters were treated at a local hospital for eye irritations caused by blowing ash and embers, officials said.
Tuesday’s strong winds grounded firefighting helicopters and airplanes. By Wednesday, the aerial equipment was not needed.
Info from KOLO TV [here].
April 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Nevada
Location: San Jacinto Wilderness, San Bernardino NF, Riverside County, CA
Specific location: Apache Peak near the Pacific Crest Trail, about six miles east of the Riverside County community of Mountain Center.
Date of Origin: 04/29/2008 at 1635 hrs.
Situation as of 05/04/08, 7:00 PM
Total Personnel: 328
Size: 784 acres
Percent contained: 100 %
The Apache Fire was declared 100 % contained this afternoon. Firefighting personnel are being pulled out. The PCT and the San Jacinto Wilderness are closed from Saddle Junction south to Highway 74, but that closure will probably be lifted sometime tomorrow.
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Situation as of 05/03/08
Total Personnel: 731
Size: 784 acres
Percent contained: 64 %
Estimated Containment Date 05/04/2008 at 1800 hrs.
Notice 05/03/08 AM: The San Jacinto Wilderness is open from Devil’s Slide Trail northward, includng the PCT. The PCT and the San Jacinto Wilderness are closed from Saddle Junction south to Highway 74 due to the fire. Mt. San Jacinto State Park is open. The Palm Springs Tramway and adjacent Long Valley are open.
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Situation as of 05/02/08
Total Personnel: 721
Size: 784 acres
Percent contained: 64 %
Estimated Containment Date 05/04/2008 at 1800 hrs.
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Situation as of 05/01/08 (updated)
Total Personnel: 711
Size: 784 acres
Percent contained: 25 %
Resources assigned include 30 handcrews, 2 helicopters, 2 helitankers, and 4 fixed wing aircraft.
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Situation as of 04/30/08
Total Personnel: 170
Size: 700 acres
Percent contained: 0 %
Fuels: Heavy brush, some timber, dead and down.
Fire Behavior: Rapid rates of spread.
Summary: Due to steep roadless terrain, 9 handcrews hiked into fire this morning. High winds, smoke and steep terrain have made accessing fire difficult. Aircraft were grounded due to high winds and a heavy marine layer limiting visibility this morning but have been flying this afternoon.
Growth Potential: Extreme.
Current Wind Conditions: 40 mph W
Current Temperature: 54 degrees
Current Humidity: 40 %
April 30, 2008 | 5 Comments | Topic: California
Location: Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, Coconino Co. AZ
Specific Location: East side of state Highway 64 between Ten-X Campground and the southern boundary of Grand Canyon NP, about three miles southeast of Tusayan.
Date of Origin: 04/29/2008 at 1239 hrs.
Cause: Human-caused
Situation as of 05/02/08:
Total Personnel: 156
Size: 2,048 acres
Percent Contained: 80%
Additional Info: Three campers have been charged with criminal negligence for leaving their campfire unattended and inadvertently igniting the X Fire. See Comments below.
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Situation as of 04/30/08:
Total Personnel: 165
Size: 2,030 acres
Percent Contained: 60%
Fuels Involved: Ponderosa pine, grass and sage.
Fire Behavior: Spotting, torching, running. No structures have been lost.
April 30, 2008 | 1 Comment | Topic: Arizona
Where: City of Sierra Madre and Angeles National Forest (Los Angeles County)
Date of Origin: 04/26/2008 at 1500 hrs.
Chanty Fire declared contained 05/03/08 at 584 acres.
Situation as of 04/30/08:
Total Personnel: 923
Size: 584 acres
Percent Contained: 88%
Estimated Containment Date 05/02/2008 at 1800 hrs.
Except for the Chantry Flat area, evacuations have been lifted.
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Situation as of 04/28/08:
Total Personnel 699
Size 538 acres
Percent Contained 21%
Map courtesy InciWeb
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Situation as of 04/27/08:
Total Personnel 900
Size 400 acres
Percent Contained 30%
Evacuations: Approximately 1,000 people have been evacuated from Oak Crest Drive across Carter Avenue to East Mira Monte Avenue, continuing down Mountain Trail Avenue, across Grandview Avenue to Santa Anita Avenue. Hikers, campers, and a wedding party were evacuated from Sturdevant’s Camp campground and taken to the Chantry Flats Ranger Station about a mile from the fire.
Fuels: Heavy brush, chaparral, and light timber.
Fire Behavior: Slow to moderate rate of spread. Fire is terrain-driven, burning uphill into the Angeles National Forest (San Gabriel Mtns).
April 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: California
Where: Coronado NF, Cochise Co., Arizona
Specific Location: Pajarita Wilderness ~7 miles west of Peña Blanca Lake. No maps available at this time.
Date of Origin: 04/18/2008, AM
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Situation as of 04/30/08:
Alamo Fire
Total Personnel: Unknown
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 95%
Beehive Fire
Total Personnel: Unknown
Size 325 acres
Percent Contained 80%
Estimated Containment Date 04/30/2008
All resources were pulled off the fire yesterday. Fire will be monitored by air.
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Situation as of 04/25/08:
Total Personnel 190
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 85%
A second fire, the Beehive Fire which started early Wednesday afternoon has been declared a part of the Alamo Fire Complex. The Beehive Fire is 8 miles NNW of the Alamo Fire. It started near Murphy Peak on the Nogales Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. It is approximately 5 miles east of Arivaca Lake in a very remote area of the forest. The fire is in Santa Cruz county near the border with Pima County.
The Beehive Fire was reported to be 300 acres Wednesday. It is being fought with air tankers and helicopters because of the remote location. It is not known whether any on-the-ground attempt is being made to line or contain the Beehive Fire, but indications are that there are none at this time.
No cost estimates of the Alamo Complex have been issued or posted at InciWeb. Maps and a video are available [here].
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Situation as of 04/22/08:
Total Personnel 350
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 75%
High winds have moderated. Full containment expected Thursday.
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Situation as of 04/21/08:
Total Personnel 278
Size 5,072 acres
Percent Contained 30%
Eastern Arizona Type II IMT has assumed management of the fire.
Pena Blanke Lake has been evacuated.
Maps are available [here]
About 200 acres of the Alamo Fire are in Mexico. The U.S. Border Patrol and the Mexican government are being advised and kept informed by the IMT.
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Situation as of 04/20/08:
Total Personnel 170
Size 3,000 acres
Percent Contained 10%
Summary: Fire began in U.S. but now burning on both sides of the U.S./Mexico International Border. Fire crews are conducting burnout operations where the Peña Blanca and Alamo drainages meet near Ruby Road.
No homes destroyed. Two ranches threatened.
Evacuations: None at this time.
Cause: Assumed human — under investigation.
Firefighting resources: Two Arizona State Forestry hand crews, one hand crew composed of Northwest Fire and Coronado National Forest firefighters, one Navajo Scout crew, fire engines from Nogales and Rio Rico Fire Departments, a light helicopter and two heavy air tankers. Ten additional fire engines and a water tender have been ordered, as have two more twenty-person hand crews and two more helicopters. An order is pending for seven Hot Shot crews. The Eastern Arizona Type II IMT has been assigned and will assume management at 8:00 PM tonight.
Fuels are grasses, brush, and oak. Terrain steep. No fire roads.
Outlook: Winds of 40 mph are forecast.
Photo courtesy Inciweb [here]. Credit Mark South.
April 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Arizona
Where: Fort Carson, El Paso Co., Colorado
Date of Origin: 04/14/2008, time unknown
Situation as of 04/19/08:
Total Personnel ~300
Size 9,600 acres
Percent Contained 75%
Summary: One fatality. Pilot Gert Marais, 42, of Fort Benton, Mont., crashed his single-engine air tanker Tuesday evening. Marais crashed on his first slurry run of the day in high winds. See [here].
No homes were destroyed.
Evacuations: 800 people evacuated. Evacuation order lifted.
Cause: Unknown
Outlook: Heavy snow has apparently damped the fire. Mop up of hot spots continues today.
April 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Colorado
Where: Ordway, Crowley Co., Colorado
Date of Origin: 04/15/2008 at 1500 hrs
Situation as of 04/18/08:
Total Personnel ~300
Size 8,900 acres
Percent Contained 100%
Summary: Two firefighter fatalities. Fire Chief Terry DeVore and firefighter John Schwartz died Tuesday when their fire truck crossed a burned bridge and plunged into a ravine. See [here].
More than 24 homes were destroyed. Video [here]
Evacuations: 1,200 people evacuated. Evacuation order lifted.
Cause: two insufficiently extinguished controlled burns that rekindled. See [here].
April 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment | Topic: Colorado
As of 04/18/08 there have been 149 wildfires in Texas this year, three of which are still active. Burned area totals 696,976 acres to date.
As of 04/23/08 there have been 153 wildfires in Texas this year, all contained. Burned area totals 698,411 acres to date.
As of 04/30/08 there have been 149 wildfires in Texas this year, three of which are still active. Burned area totals 700,437 Acres acres to date.
As of 05/03/08 there have been 147* wildfires in Texas this year, two of which are still active. Burned area totals 771,800* acres to date.
*Note: information based on InciWeb reportage. No specific info provided as to why the total fire count went down between 4/23 and 4/30, and again between 4/30 and 5/03. These are contained incidents. They either happened or they didn’t. The acreage totals are also suspect, and apparently lower than actual by ~30,000 acres.
April 19, 2008 | 2 Comments | Topic: Other States
Where: Cibola National Forest, Torrance Co., New Mexico
Specific Location: South of Capilla Peak
Date of Origin: 04/15/2008 at 1555 hrs
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Situation as of 05/08/08
Total Personnel: 667
Size: 13,709 acres
Percent Contained: 75%
Current Wind Conditions 32 mph W
Current Temperature 72 degrees
Current Humidity 12 %
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Situation as of 05/07/08
Total Personnel: 774
Size: 13,680 acres
Percent Contained: 60%
New Mexico remains on Red Flag Warning for strong winds.
FEMA began a preliminary damage assessment on Tuesday in the areas affected by the Trigo Fire. A federal declaration request had been made and accepted by FEMA prior to the blow up 04/30. At that time nine homes had been burned. The count is now ~60 homes destroyed by the Trigo Fire.
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Situation as of 05/06/08
Total Personnel: 806
Size: 13,680 acres
Percent Contained: 55%
The evacuation of the Sherwood Forest subdivision has been lifted by Torrance County Civil Authorities. Residents of Sherwood Forest can now enter the subdivision.
Returning residents should be alert for hazards such as concealed pockets of burning embers, burned trees that could fall and downed electric lines.
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Situation as of 05/05/08:
Total Personnel 809
Size: 13,680 acres
Percent Contained 50%
An official damage assessment is expected this afternoon.
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Situation as of 05/04/08:
Total Personnel 472+
Size 13,790 acres
Percent Contained 35 %
In addition to the 50 homes burned in the blow up, one communications tower (the easternmost facility) has been heavily damaged.
Trigo fire progession map [here] (courtesy InciWeb)
Current Wind Conditions: 10-20 mph NW
Current Temperature: 55 degrees
Current Humidity: 16 %
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Situation as of 05/03/08:
Total Personnel 472+
Size 13,790 acres
Percent Contained 35 %
Summary: Torrance County Sheriff’s Department will continue to assess damage today. Currently it appears less than one hundred homes were damaged. As there is active fire still in the area the threat for damage still remains. There is a strong law enforcement presence and no looting is occurring. [here]
Update 11:00 PM: KRQE TV is reporting that 50 homes were burned in the blow up of 05/01. See comments.
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Situation as of 05/02/08:
Total Personnel 472
Size 13,790 acres
Percent Contained 35 %
Summary: 600 families evacuated homes in the Torreon and Tajique area. Affected areas include Sufi Campground, Sherwood Forest, Apple Mountain Campground and Ten Pines Road. Residents were asked to evacuate to the Estancia Community Center at Williams Street in Estancia where the American Red Cross has set up.
More than a dozen homes burned yesterday, possibly twice that many. High winds of 30-40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph have made aerial firefighting all but impossible. Heavy smoke obscures views.
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BLOW UP !!!
The Trigo Fire has jumped containment lines and more than doubled to 11,360 acres.
Situation as of 05/01/08:
Total Personnel 182
Size 11,360 acres
Percent Contained ???
Cost to date: ???
Summary - Around 3 p.m. yesterday wind gusts up to 50 mph carried an ember approximately ½ mile North of the containment line. Winds were from the Southwest to the Northeast pushing the fire from the New Canyon area toward Capilla Peak and Forest Road 55 (Torreon and Tajique Loop Road).
A Type One team was ordered when the surrounding communities were determined to be in the path of the fire.
At 3:35 p.m. the Torrance County Emergency Office started evacuations in the area of Ten Pines Road, Sherwood Subdivision and later Torreon, SUFI Camp, and the FR 55 Loop Road were included. An Evacuation center is on stand-by at the Estancia Community Center and can be opened at a moments notice. Livestock is being accepted at Torrance County Fairgrounds.
Road closures are at West bound Hwy 55 at Junction 55 and Hwy 337 and Abshire Rd./Ewing Highway.
Two air tankers with a lead plane continued to drop retardant until dark. Firefighters were fighting the fire on the flanks.
The type 3 team will transition to a Type 1 Team (Whitney) today. Additional resources are on order. Torrance County Emergency Management will be holding a meeting today at 1pm in the Estancia Community Center.
Wind: 10-25 mph NW, with gusts to 55 mph
Current Temperature: 57 degrees
Current Humidity: 8-12 %
Estimated Containment Date: 12/29/2008 at hrs.
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Situation as of 04/26/08:
Total Personnel 478
Size 4,910 acres
Percent Contained 59%
Cost to date: $4,800,000
Reduced wind allowed firefighters to hold and extend lines Friday. Outlook is good for containment by Monday.
A community meeting is scheduled for this evening at 6:00 PM in the Torreon Community Center. Possible natural resource restorative measures for those affected by the fire will be discussed. The local chapter of the American Red Cross has provided a toll free number (1-800-560-2302) for those needing assistance whose homes were lost or damaged by the Trigo fire.
Congressional staffers, the Mayor of Mountainair and officials from Claunch Soil and Water Conservation District visited ICP today for a tour and briefing. New Canyon Road to Capilla Peak remains closed from the Forest boundary west. Red Canyon campground remains closed, and Forest Road 358 into Bartolo Canyon is blocked due to firefighter activity.
Beehive Fire (8 mi. N of the Trigo Fire and part of the Trigo Complex)
Situation as of 04/26/08:
Total Personnel 187
Size 325 acres
Percent Contained 40%
Three Type I (Hotshots) crews were transported to the fire via helicopter and one Type II crew transported off the fire. Resources are spiked out (camped onsite) and will continue to build line and secure perimeter.
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Situation as of 04/25/08:
Total Personnel 509
Size 4,910 acres
Percent Contained 53%
Cost to date: $4,500,000
A frontal passage yesterday evening brought a change in wind direction, from southwest to northwest, causing some concern along the southern flank but reducing the threat to the Capilla Peak Observatory north of the fire. Firefighters were battered by gusty winds yesterday as they continued to strengthen control lines. Strong, gusty winds prevented the use of air tankers, and only three bucket drops were made by a heavy helicopter before air operations were suspended.
The Trigo Fire is now under a unified command with New Mexico State Forestry.
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Situation as of 04/24/08:
Total Personnel 506
Size 4,600 acres
Percent Contained 46%
Cost to date: $3,800,000
Current Wind Conditions 28-35 mph SW
Current Temperature 78 degrees
Current Humidity 8 to 12 %
Today will be a critical day in maintaining control of the Trigo Fire. Extreme wind conditions are expected between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., with gusts up to 40 miles per hour.
The fire is moving north up Capilla Peak. The east and west extremities of the fire have cooled down and rehabilitation efforts are underway in those areas. The area below Capilla Peak however, continues to provide resistance.
The University of New Mexico’s Capilla Peak Observatory is threatened.
Aircraft will fly today as wind conditions permit, dropping retardant and water as needed.
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Situation as of 04/23/08:
Total Personnel 524
Size 4,425 acres
Percent Contained 36%
Cost to date: $3,200,000
Air tankers dropped 82,000 gallons of retardant on hotspots Tuesday, while heavy helicopters dowsed flames with about 40,000 gallons of water. Tankers and helicopters will continue to make drops today. The Belen Alexander Municipal Airport is being used as a helibase. Type I heavy helicopters are dipping water from Manzano Lake.
Winds still strong, 28-33 mph W
Fuels: Pinyon-juniper; gamel oak; ponderosa pine and mixed conifer.
Evacuation orders were lifted Tuesday for Torreon and Manzano, although residents should remain on alert in case the fire changes directions. The New Canyon area remains closed at this time. National Interagency Coordination Center reports 20 structures lost.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson toured the fire yesterday. Friday he will meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez this week to discuss three American hostages being held by rebel forces in Colombia.
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Situation as of 04/22/08:
Total Personnel 389
Size 4,130 acres
Percent Contained 27%
High winds have moderated. Torrance County’s emergency management director lifted voluntary evacuations Tuesday morning for Torreon and Manzano.
About 14,000 tons of fire retardant were dropped on the blaze Monday, while helicopters dumped water on hot spots. A flare-up occurred on the western side of the fire in Valencia County near Meadowlake at around 2 p.m. Monday.
Fire crews from Sun City, Surprise, Peoria, and Mesa fire departments are assisting, as well as firefighters from the Phoenix area.
Officials estimate the cost of fighting the blaze at $2,300,000 to date. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved New Mexico’s request to help pay for state and local efforts to fight the Trigo fire. The FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant covers 75 % of eligible firefighting costs, while local governments pay for 25 percent.
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Situation as of 04/21/08:
Total Personnel 387
Size 3,745 acres
Percent Contained 10%
Evacuation Notice: At 3:00 PM yesterday the residents of Manzano and Torreon were ordered to evacuate by the Torrance County Office of Emergency Services.
Winds are SW 30 mpg and the fire is moving NE. The fire traveled three miles within five hours, producing flame lengths of 100 - 200 feet. A convection column sent embers a half mile or more beyond the fire front.
Wind-driven flames jumped a fire contingency line and crossed the Cibola National Forest boundary onto private land Sunday, roaring onto flatter land with grass and shrubs.As of 6:00 PM today nine homes, nine outbuildings and two recreational vehicles have been reported burned. Hundreds of homes in and near Manzano are reported threatened. No personal injuries have been reported.
The University of New Mexico’s Capilla Peak Observatory is also threatened.
Officials estimate the cost of fighting the blaze to date at $1,870,000.
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Situation as of 04/20/08:
Total Personnel 335
Size 1,320 acres
Percent Contained 30%
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Update 04/20/08: 20 mph winds gusting to 35 mph are making containment difficult.
Crews attempted to deepen the black line between the fire front and the northern perimeter of the fire by consuming unburned fuel with drip torches. However, single digit humidity and strong south winds forced suspension of the effort about midday. Conditions caused some interior runs and spotting over containment lines, but all spots were quickly corralled or extinguished with retardant. Air tankers and helicopters dropped 65,000 gallons of retardant on hot spots and in front of flame fronts. - InciWeb report 6:00 AM 4/20/08
A public meeting was held in Torreon, NM yesterday with ~80 residents in attendance. Manzano and Torreon residents remain on standby for possible evacuations.
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Situation as of 04/18/08:
Total Personnel 335
Size 1,160 acres
Percent Contained 30%
Estimated Containment Date 04/24/2008
Summary as of 04/18/08: Steep, rugged terrain and canyon winds continue to challenge containment efforts on the Trigo Fire. The fire made an active run to the East side of Osha Peak Wednesday night due to high winds from the passage of a cold front.
Cloudy conditions, cool temperatures and higher relative humidity aided firefighters in the containment effort yesterday. Air tankers and helicopters continued to be used as wind conditions allowed.
As the fire continues to grow, Cowie’s Type II Team and district fire personnel have developed strategies actively working contingency lines between the head of the fire and the local communities. The next two days will be important in the direction of this fire and suppression effort.
Evacuations: There are currently NO community evacuations; however, east Manzano residents are asked to be prepared in case the need for evacuations arises. Have personal items such as important papers, prescriptions and pictures packed and ready to go in case there is a need for evacuation.
Area residents are urged to be aware of increased fire traffic on highway 47 southeast of Belen, highway 60 from the highway 47 junction to Mountainair, Forest Road 33 (access to the closed JFK Campground).
Closures: Forest Road 245 to Capilla Peak and Red Canyon Campground are closed until further notice.
Basic Information:
Incident Type Wildland Fire
Cause Under Investigation
New Mexico Type II IMT assigned, IC Craig Cowie
Outlook: Planned Actions Continue constructing fireline and burnout areas if possible. Continue to construct contingency line w/dozers on East flank for protection of the communities on the east side of Manzano Mtns. Continue to reduce fuels and provide structure protection surrounding the radio/communication towers.
Projected Movement Wind driven to the NE
Growth Potential High
Terrain Difficulty Extreme
Remarks Increase of 360 acres due to last night’s IR mapping, no growth in fire perimiter occurred today. Smoke Data: 80 acres of FM10 (20 tons per acre), 40 acres of FM19 (15 tons per acre), 140 acres of FM5(7 tons per acre).
No maps available at this time. See GEOMAC Viewer [here], Trigo Fire
Fire progression:
04/16 __ 400 acs
04/17 __ 650
04/18 __ 800
04/19 __ 1,160
04/20 __ 1,320
04/21 __ 3,750
04/22 __ 4,130
04/23 __ 4,425
04/24 __ 4,600
04/25 __ 4,910
05/01 __ 11,700
05/02 __ 13,790
05/04 __ 13,790
05/05 __ 13,680 (adjusted)
05/08 __ 13,709 (readjusted)
April 19, 2008 | 5 Comments | Topic: New Mexico
