Ranchy
Well-known member
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Fires Burn More Than 60,000 Acres in N.M.
Associated Press
Hot temperatures, winds and remote, rugged terrain are slowing efforts to control a handful of fires that have burned more than 60,000 acres of tinder-dry forests.
Crews fighting the largest blaze — the 24,300-acre Bear Fire in southwestern New Mexico — are being hampered by extremely dry conditions in the dense mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forest and by downdrafts from storms.
The blaze continues to threaten cabins and other structures in the Willow Creek area and could reach the N-Bar Ranch and Negrito Fire Center, which have been evacuated, fire officials warned.
Roads in the area are closed, and fire officials earlier this week evacuated six cabins that were occupied in the Willow Creek area. They also evacuated campgrounds at Snow Lake, the Willow Creek recreation center and Bear Wallow lookout tower.
Crews burned out along the north edge to steer the flames away from the ranch and Negrito Fire Center and to keep it from burning more of the Gila Wilderness.
The smoke plume could be seen more than 50 miles away.
The blaze grew rapidly to 7,000 acres Monday night. By Tuesday night, the size had doubled. It grew an additional 10,000 acres by Wednesday, spurred by crown fires and winds that blew embers in front of the main blaze, which is burning at an elevation of about 9,000 feet.
Investigators were trying to determine what caused the fire.
The 11,904-acre Skates Fire in the Gila forced the evacuation 150 homes in the Lake Roberts area last Thursday, but the last residents returned home Tuesday.
The blaze seven miles northeast of Pinos Altos has burned pinon, juniper and ponderosa pine trees since it was kindled by lightning June 2. Crews have been concentrating on keeping it from crossing the east side of the drainage in Skates Canyon.
The fire was 50 percent contained.
Lake Roberts and campgrounds around the lake and its vicinity are closed, said information officer Brian Morris.
Fire restrictions on the Gila prohibit campfires and charcoal grills on most of the forest land.
About 100 miles northwest, two other fires kindled June 6 in pinon, juniper and ponderosa pine in the Gila were about 60 percent contained.
The Wilson Fire, nine miles northeast of Reserve, and the Martinez Fire, 12 miles southwest of Reserve, together have blackened 13,738 acres. The two lightning-caused blazes are dubbed the Reserve Complex, although they have not burned together.
Firefighters, helped by bulldozers and helicopters, were building more lines around the perimeter of the fires and burning out areas on the north-northwest flanks of the Martinez Fire.
Another fire in northeastern New Mexico has burned an estimated 10,200 acres of state and private land five miles northeast of Ocate.
Firefighters on the Rivera Mesa Fire were attempting to flank its southeastern side Wednesday, then conduct burnout operations.
Rance Irwin, air operations chief, said the air attack went well against the fire Tuesday. Heavy air tankers dropped about 30,000 gallons of retardant, while single-engine air tankers dropped about 25,000 gallons more and helicopters cooled the fire with 100,000 gallons of water, he said.
Crews did burnout operations on the active northeast corner, securing about three miles of fire line there. Hand crews and dozers made progress on the western and southwestern flanks, securing containment lines and mopping up hot spots, officials said.
The fire, ignited by lightning last Friday, has been burning pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine, grass and brush, said Dan Ware, state Forestry Division spokesman.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday agreed to pay costs associated with fighting the Rivera Mesa Fire. The grant will reimburse 75 percent of the cost of fires managed by the state, including fire suppression, field camps, shelter, some meals, overtime and related costs.
Fires Burn More Than 60,000 Acres in N.M.
Associated Press
Hot temperatures, winds and remote, rugged terrain are slowing efforts to control a handful of fires that have burned more than 60,000 acres of tinder-dry forests.
Crews fighting the largest blaze — the 24,300-acre Bear Fire in southwestern New Mexico — are being hampered by extremely dry conditions in the dense mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forest and by downdrafts from storms.
The blaze continues to threaten cabins and other structures in the Willow Creek area and could reach the N-Bar Ranch and Negrito Fire Center, which have been evacuated, fire officials warned.
Roads in the area are closed, and fire officials earlier this week evacuated six cabins that were occupied in the Willow Creek area. They also evacuated campgrounds at Snow Lake, the Willow Creek recreation center and Bear Wallow lookout tower.
Crews burned out along the north edge to steer the flames away from the ranch and Negrito Fire Center and to keep it from burning more of the Gila Wilderness.
The smoke plume could be seen more than 50 miles away.
The blaze grew rapidly to 7,000 acres Monday night. By Tuesday night, the size had doubled. It grew an additional 10,000 acres by Wednesday, spurred by crown fires and winds that blew embers in front of the main blaze, which is burning at an elevation of about 9,000 feet.
Investigators were trying to determine what caused the fire.
The 11,904-acre Skates Fire in the Gila forced the evacuation 150 homes in the Lake Roberts area last Thursday, but the last residents returned home Tuesday.
The blaze seven miles northeast of Pinos Altos has burned pinon, juniper and ponderosa pine trees since it was kindled by lightning June 2. Crews have been concentrating on keeping it from crossing the east side of the drainage in Skates Canyon.
The fire was 50 percent contained.
Lake Roberts and campgrounds around the lake and its vicinity are closed, said information officer Brian Morris.
Fire restrictions on the Gila prohibit campfires and charcoal grills on most of the forest land.
About 100 miles northwest, two other fires kindled June 6 in pinon, juniper and ponderosa pine in the Gila were about 60 percent contained.
The Wilson Fire, nine miles northeast of Reserve, and the Martinez Fire, 12 miles southwest of Reserve, together have blackened 13,738 acres. The two lightning-caused blazes are dubbed the Reserve Complex, although they have not burned together.
Firefighters, helped by bulldozers and helicopters, were building more lines around the perimeter of the fires and burning out areas on the north-northwest flanks of the Martinez Fire.
Another fire in northeastern New Mexico has burned an estimated 10,200 acres of state and private land five miles northeast of Ocate.
Firefighters on the Rivera Mesa Fire were attempting to flank its southeastern side Wednesday, then conduct burnout operations.
Rance Irwin, air operations chief, said the air attack went well against the fire Tuesday. Heavy air tankers dropped about 30,000 gallons of retardant, while single-engine air tankers dropped about 25,000 gallons more and helicopters cooled the fire with 100,000 gallons of water, he said.
Crews did burnout operations on the active northeast corner, securing about three miles of fire line there. Hand crews and dozers made progress on the western and southwestern flanks, securing containment lines and mopping up hot spots, officials said.
The fire, ignited by lightning last Friday, has been burning pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine, grass and brush, said Dan Ware, state Forestry Division spokesman.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday agreed to pay costs associated with fighting the Rivera Mesa Fire. The grant will reimburse 75 percent of the cost of fires managed by the state, including fire suppression, field camps, shelter, some meals, overtime and related costs.
