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Blue Fire Evening Update, May 23, 2024 05-24-2024
Blue 2 Fire
Publication Type: News - 05/23/2024 - 22:11
Update: Today's Red Flag conditions created increased smoke and fire activity from the Blue 2 Fire that is currently burning in the White Mountain Wilderness area. The fire size is currently estimated at 700 acres, but a heavy smoke layer makes an accurate estimate difficult. The fire continues to burn dead and down trees and standing dead trees (snags) that were left after the Little Bear fire in 2012.
"Many of the firefighters that are currently working on the Blue fire worked on the Little Bear Fire," says Rich Dolphin, former Superintendent for the Smokey Bear Hotshots. "This fire is currently burning in dead and down fuels, not mature trees with crown fire activity like Little Bear."
Crews continue to prepare containment lines by cutting and removing dead trees. There is a significant amount of work to be done and more crews are arriving tomorrow. When appropriate, water bucket drops will be utilized to check the fire's spread.
"This continues to be a full suppression effort utilizing every tool available," said Lino Baca, Incident Commander. "We factor in terrain, the com ex access and the safety of firefighters in all of our suppression decisions. Given those inputs, indirect tactics will provide the highest probability of success."
There will be a public meeting Friday (May 24, 2024) evening at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Branch Community College 709 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso NM.
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE ENFORCING THE CLOSURE ORDER
Start Date I Time: May 17, 2024, approximately 3:45 p.m.
Cause: Lightning
Size: Blue 2 Fire: Estimated 700 acres Location: White Mountain Wilderness Resources: 86 Personnel, more inroute
Types of vegetationin the area (akafuels): Dead and dead/down trees
Containment: 0%
Tactic: Full Suppression
Road Closures: 107 on Natural Forest Service Lands Smoke: Moderate / Wind Influenced Smoke Evacuation: None - we are enforcing the closure order
Area Closures: Part of White Mountain Wilderness Area, See link for more information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/nmlnf-blue-2-fire/-closure-update-for-trails-on white-mountain-wilderness-area-05-22-2024
More Information:
Facebook:www.facebook.com/LincolnNationalForest NM Fire Info: www.NMFirelnfo.com
lnciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmlnf-blue-2-fire
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