As of 7 pm tonight, firefighters are conducting a strategic burn operation in Robinson Canyon on the northwest portion of the fire perimeter to secure the area and mitigate risk. If conditions are conducive to successfully continue, firefighters will also burn tomorrow. Smoke may be visible tonight and tomorrow.

 Below, the Entiat Hot Shots are burning at the break between Division Z and Division A.

    Fire Facts: Location: 20 miles south of Buffalo, Wyoming
Fire size today: 790 acres
Containment: 25%
Fire start date: June 8, 2021
Cause: Lightning
Resources: 236 personnel 
No evacuations, road closures, or area closures are in effect.

Temporary Flight Restriction  A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect for the fire area. Remember: If You Fly, We Can’t! For details on the TFR, see https://tfr.faa.gov/ 

Donations are no longer needed Our firefighters are well supplied with everything they need, so community donations are not needed. Please consider directing your generosity to support your local fire department or other emergency responder.

Management Rocky Mountain Area  Type 2 Blue Team  

Summary:  On Sunday, firefighters plan to take advantage of light winds to attack the Robinson Fire from the air. The fire is burning in extremely steep and rocky terrain, about 20 miles south of Buffalo.  Helicopters will drop buckets of water to begin controlling the fire inside Robinson Canyon, the most difficult terrain in the fire area. Aircraft have not been able to work inside the canyon when winds were strong and gusty. 

“When the terrain is too dangerous for ground firefighters to operate, it’s often too risky for aircraft as well,” explained Air Operations Branch Director Jason Hofman. “We’re looking forward to putting our three helicopters to good use today.” The Wyoming National Guard has also provided a medical evacuation helicopter and crew to stand by in case of a serious firefighter injury.  As the airborne firefighting effort ramps up, ground firefighters continue to improve fire lines and scout for more control opportunities in the very rough and rocky terrain.  To date, no structures have been damaged by the fire.

A separate group of firefighters continues to assess structures in the areas of Billy Creek, Poison Creek, and Bull Creek, to plan how to protect those structures in case the fire expands in that direction. Roughly half of those structures have been assessed so far, and firefighters hope to make substantial progress on the assessment process today. 

On Sunday, fire managers expect moderate fire behavior similar to Saturday’s. Groups of standing green trees continue to occasionally burn. However, the fire is also steadily consuming dead trees and logs, which is a slow, beneficial process. Residents and forest visitors should expect to see smoke for an extended period.

Fire Conditions and Weather Sunday’s weather will continue to be warm and dry, though afternoon humidity is expected to increase slightly. Winds will be mostly light, out of the northeast and east, with brief gusts possible from the east in the early evening.  Smoke is expected to travel to the west. 
 
Fire information public hotline: 307-217-6999   
Hours 8 am-8 pm  
Media phone line: 307-217-6978 
Hours 8 am – 8 pm
Email: 2021.Robinson@FireNet.gov
Robinson Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7528/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinsonFire2021/ 

#RobinsonFire2021

Robinson Fire Daily Update for Saturday, June 12, 2021: 8:00 pm  

Summary  At 7 pm Saturday, June 12, command of the Robinson Fire was transferred from local fire managers to the Rocky Mountain Area Blue Team (Type 2). 
 Mike Haydon, the Incident Commander of the incoming Blue Team, had high praise for the strong coordination he’s seen among Johnson County officials, fire managers from the Bureau of Land Management, and local fire departments. “We will continue to consult and coordinate with local officials to ensure that we’re meeting their needs, and the needs of the communities that have been affected by this fire.”
 On Saturday, local firefighters worked closely with the Blue Team to orient them to the challenging terrain and the firefighting strategies and tactics that have limited the fire’s spread. “All of the local forces made good decisions and a solid plan,” noted Chris Zoller, Operations Section Chief. “The excellent work they did has set us up for success.”
 To date, no structures have been damaged by the Robinson Fire, burning about 20 miles south of Buffalo. Firefighters are continuing to assess structures and make detailed plans to defend structures near the fire, if necessary. 
 Fire behavior on Saturday was much milder than prior days, thanks to winds that were much gentler than the gale-force winds that fed the fire’s growth last week. Groups of standing green trees have burned, but the fire is also improving forest health by consuming dead trees and logs.
 On Sunday, firefighters will continue to strengthen the first fire lines built by local forces. They will also continue scouting for opportunities to contain the fire in steep, rocky terrain that is nearly vertical in places.
 Three helicopters have arrived to support ground firefighters with drops of water or fire retardant. The Wyoming National Guard has also sent a helicopter and crew equipped and trained in medical evacuation, to provide quick aid in case of a serious firefighter injury. No injuries have been reported to date. 
 Fire Conditions and WeatherSunday’s weather will continue to be warm and dry, but winds will continue to be mild. Smoke is expected to move to the west. 

   

 Daily Video update is now available on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page. Update is available in both English and Spanish.

Highlights: The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 will transfer command of the Rincon Fire back to the Santa Fe National Forest, led by Type 4 Incident Commander Andrew Valdez, at 7:00 AM on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. This is the final update from the Type 2 Incident Management Team. If fire activity increases, future updates will be shared by the Santa Fe National Forest. The Team extends its sincere thanks to the local communities for their support and hospitality throughout this incident.

Operations: On Sunday, air operations performed additional reconnaissance flights over the Rincon Fire to monitor its behavior and activity. This flight documented some increased pockets of heat on the south end of the fire, although very little movement was recorded. One helicopter will remain available and ready to assist if the Rincon Fire exhibits any increased activity. Throughout this incident, no accidents or injuries were reported. To provide protection for nearby structures, Beatty’s Cabin and surrounding outbuildings will remain wrapped with protective materials after the Team departs from the incident. The Team will complete a thorough transition with the Santa Fe National Forest to ensure continued success after their departure on Tuesday morning.

Weather: A cold front moved across the area overnight, spreading cooler and more moist air over northeastern New Mexico. Above normal temperatures and humidity around 10% will return on Tuesday and Wednesday as high pressure shifts south of the area. An increase in mid-level moisture Thursday will increase thunderstorms chances late in the week.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public is the first priority. Members of the public are urged to stay away from the vicinity of the Rincon Fire. Backpackers planning to enter the Pecos Wilderness are advised to change their plans.

Restrictions: Due to ongoing drought and high fire danger, the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions forest-wide with an order that took effect on Thursday, June 17. The west side of the Forest has been in Stage 1 fire restrictions since May 24. In addition, a Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones.

Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order to protect public health and safety from June 16 through December 31, 2021, unless rescinded earlier. The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the restricted area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails on the eastern side of the Pecos Wilderness within an area roughly defined by Jacks Creek Trail #257 and Beatty’s Trail #25 on the west to Skyline Trail #251 on the north to the Pecos Wilderness boundary on the east to Lone Pine Mesa Trail # 214, El Porvenir Trail #247 and Skyline Trail #251 on the south, then heading north to Iron Gate Trailhead and Jacks Creek Trailhead.

Smoke: Smoke from the Rincon Fire is visible within a 100-mile radius of the fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your location to see the latest smoke information. 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 Environmental Public Health Tracking website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Contact: Fire information will be posted on Inciweb, SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and the New Mexico Fire Information website.The Rincon Fire Information phone number and email address will no longer be active after 8:00 PM tonight. For future updates, please contact the Santa Fe National Forest Public Affairs Office at 505-414-6438 or julieanne.overton@usda.gov.

Email: 2021.rincon@firenet.gov •  Phone: (505) 445-8278 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Highlights: Firefighters with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 have directed considerable effort toward maintaining good communication and developing trust with local property owners on the Rincon Fire. Their cooperation has greatly assisted the Team in their strategic planning efforts.

Operations: Under favorable weather conditions, flight crews are continuing to conduct reconnaissance flights over the Rincon Fire to monitor fire behavior. Yesterday, a reconnaissance flight observed fewer smokes than previous days, indicating a further decline in fire activity. Throughout the day, thunderstorms were observed near the Rincon Fire. These storms brought thunder and lightning throughout the region, causing three new fire starts to the west of the Rincon Fire area. Helicopter crews promptly responded with water bucket drops to help minimize fire activity. With the Rincon Fire becoming less active, the number of personnel assigned to the fire will continue to decrease as resources are released to support other incidents across the Southwest.

Weather: A brief period of strong, dry northwest winds will arrive on Sunday, with temperatures running well above normal. A weak cold front will briefly move in from the north on Sunday night, with a cooler air mass moving over northeast New Mexico on Monday. Above normal temperatures are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday as the region becomes warmer and drier.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public is the first priority. Members of the public are urged to stay away from the vicinity of the Rincon Fire. Backpackers planning to enter the Pecos Wilderness are advised to change their plans.

Restrictions: Due to ongoing drought and high fire danger, the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions forest-wide with an order that took effect on Thursday, June 17. The west side of the Forest has been in Stage 1 fire restrictions since May 24. In addition, a Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones.

Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order to protect public health and safety from June 16 through December 31, 2021, unless rescinded earlier. The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the restricted area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails on the eastern side of the Pecos Wilderness within an area roughly defined by Jacks Creek Trail #257 and Beatty’s Trail #25 on the west to Skyline Trail #251 on the north to the Pecos Wilderness boundary on the east to Lone Pine Mesa Trail # 214, El Porvenir Trail #247 and Skyline Trail #251 on the south, then heading north to Iron Gate Trailhead and Jacks Creek Trailhead.

Smoke: Smoke from the Rincon Fire is visible within a 100-mile radius of the fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your location to see the latest smoke information. 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 Environmental Public Health Tracking website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Fire Information: Rincon Fire updates will be posted on Inciweb, SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and the New Mexico Fire Information website. If residents are interested in learning more about disaster preparation, please visit https://www.wildlandfirersg.org/ to read about the “Ready Set Go” program.

 

Media & Public Information Contact

Email: 2021.rincon@firenet.gov •  Phone: (505) 445-8278 • Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

 Daily Video update is now available on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page. Update is available in both English and Spanish.

 Daily Video update is now available on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page. Update is available in both English and Spanish.

  

Highlights: Despite surrounding thunderstorms and lightning, no new fire starts were detected yesterday. The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 continues to monitor the fire area and remains prepared to respond to any new movement.

 

Operations: As weather permits, firefighters are continuing to fly over the fire area to search for any remaining signs of smoke or heat. Although eight lightning strikes were recorded within the fire area yesterday, no new fire starts were observed. Based on aerial observations, fire activity continues to decline with no new fire spread. Fire managers are relying on two helitack crews to respond to any new fire starts in the wilderness. These crews of firefighters are specially trained and certified in the use of helicopters for fire suppression. While the likelihood for large-scale growth of the Rincon Fire remains low, future drier and warmer weather and the presence of dead trees killed by spruce budworm still pose the potential for extreme fire behavior.

 

Weather: Showers and thunderstorms will develop around noon on Saturday with potential for storms lasting well into the evening. A brief period of strong, dry northwest winds will arrive on Sunday, with temperatures running well above normal. A cold front will briefly move in from the north on Monday, with short-lived cooling followed by warming and drying on Tuesday.

 

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public is the first priority. Members of the public are urged to stay away from the vicinity of the Rincon Fire. Backpackers planning to enter the Pecos Wilderness are advised to change their plans.

 

Restrictions: Due to ongoing drought and high fire danger, the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions forest-wide with an order that took effect on Thursday, June 17. The west side of the Forest has been in Stage 1 fire restrictions since May 24. In addition, a Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones.

 

Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order to protect public health and safety from June 16 through December 31, 2021, unless rescinded earlier. The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the restricted area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails on the eastern side of the Pecos Wilderness within an area roughly defined by Jacks Creek Trail #257 and Beatty’s Trail #25 on the west to Skyline Trail #251 on the north to the Pecos Wilderness boundary on the east to Lone Pine Mesa Trail # 214, El Porvenir Trail #247 and Skyline Trail #251 on the south, then heading north to Iron Gate Trailhead and Jacks Creek Trailhead.

 

Smoke: Smoke from the Rincon Fire is visible within a 100-mile radius of the fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your location to see the latest smoke information. 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 Environmental Public Health Tracking website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

 

Rincon Fire Information will be posted on Inciweb, SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and the New Mexico Fire Information website. If residents are interested in learning more about disaster preparation, please visit https://www.wildlandfirersg.org/ to read about the “Ready Set Go” program.

Daily Video update is now available on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page. Update is available in both English and Spanish.