Single Publication

Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest

Start Date / Time: July 18, 2023/2100

Cause: Lightning

Size: 7-8 acres

Location:  East of Sacramento Lookout Tower, 6 mi. north of the community of Timberon, 3.5 miles southeast of Sunspot, NM.

Resources: 2 engines; 2 crews; additional support personnel. Total personnel: 26

Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Mixed conifer, locust and oak brush, dead and down trees.

Fire behavior: Low fire behavior. The fire is moving slowly across forest floor.

Containment: 0%

Strategy: Confine and contain using nearby roads and trails.

Values at risk: No structures or communities are currently at immediate risk.

Evacuations: None

Road Closures: None

Injuries/Fatalities: None

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from the nearby communities of Timberon, Sunspot and Cloudcroft.  

Weather: Fire activity is greatly dependent on the weather. Temperatures at the fire are 81-85 degrees, 17-19% relative humidity, light winds 8-10 mph. For more information visit https://www.weather.gov/.

Update: Crews are responding to a lightning-caused wildfire on the Sacramento Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest. The fire is located north of Apple Tree Canyon close to the Sacramento Lookout. The fire is approximately 6 miles north of Timberon and 3 miles southeast of Sunspot, NM, in a remote area of the forest.

Firefighters are focused on constructing fireline on the south and west side of the fire. The fire is exhibiting low fire behavior as it moves slowly across the forest floor consuming dead and down logs, branches and pine needles. Recent rains in the area have increased moisture levels, which contributed to the mild fire behavior.