Three Rivers BAER Assessment

May 2021

Smokey Bear Ranger District

Lincoln National Forest

White Paper

 

  Introduction   The Three Rivers Fire started April 26, 2021, just inside the White Mountain Wilderness, above the Three Rivers Campground.  It quickly spread into the White Mountains Wilderness and up into the western escarpment on the Smokey Bear Ranger District located on the Lincoln National Forest (LNF), over the mountain ridges into the Little Bear burn scar on the east.  Fuel types were within initially pinon juniper, moved into ponderosa and to the top of the mountains into the high elevation mixed conifer and alpine grassland vegetative types. The fire burned from 1925 meters elevation to 3420 meters elevation at the hill northwest of Lookout Mountain.    The west side of the White Mountains form part of the western escarpment dropping into the Tularosa Basin.  This western escarpment is composed of steep cliffs and vertical rises.   and mountain range composed of an igneous and limestone mix.  The higher elevation has mixed conifer, with the mid and lower slopes of the mountains composed of Ponderosa pine forests, grading into pinon juniper woodlands.  The mountains terminate abruptly into pinon juniper, and once out of the hills, gives way to desert scrub.  The mountain slopes are steep, with talus slopes and boulder fields prominent.  The high elevation slopes hold some water, especially on the east side, but on the western escarpment surface flow from rain cascades off the steep slopes and directly into the heads of the drainages.  There are several springs at the foot of the White Mountains that produce a small but steady amount of water.  Three Rivers is a perennial stream, as it flows 9 months out of the year.  The stream retains deep pockets and pools of water that, although seemingly unconnected on the surface, do not dry up, and allow survival of aquatic biota.    The Three Rivers burned area is 98% located within the White Mountain Wilderness.  Much of the White Mountains is designated wilderness, and only accessible by foot traffic.  The terrain has been described as rocky and challenging, with rolling hills at the foot of the mountains and steep cliffs and talus slopes in the upper reaches of the mountains.  Elevations range from 5,400 to 10,083.  Annual precipitation for the White Mountains is about 19 inches, and the precipitation pattern is bi-modal with 70 percent of the precipitation coming during the summer months and the remaining 30 percent coming as snow during the winter months.  Those areas within the burn that experienced moderate to high severity burn pose the potential for accelerated erosion and loss of water control.  This is especially true of the western escarpment that burned during the fire     BAER Critical Values   The Three Rivers fire burned with 647 acres of high severity burn, 2317 acres of moderate severity burn, and 2885 acres as low and unburned severity.   The fire burned up the western escarpment and into the high elevations of the 2012 Little Bear burn scar, impacting areas that had started to recover from that landscape-scale stand-replacement fire. Little to no vegetative ground cover remains in the high severity burn areas of mixed conifer, alpine and sub-alpine grassland and ponderosa habitats.  Dropped needles and vegetative sprouting was noted in the moderate burn severity sites.   Grass root collars remain intact within a majority of the moderate and low burn severity areas of the grassland and pinon-juniper vegetation type, and these areas have already started resprouting. The burned area will experience higher than normal erosion and overland water flow due to loss of vegetative cover, especially in the upper elevations with the steep terrain, until vegetative cover becomes re-established.      Post-fire conditions will impact the values at risk listed below.  It has been determined from the BAER assessment and modeling that there are risks to public safety, property, infrastructure and natural resources.  The following are values at risk, which includes a public safety risk.   Table:  BAER Critical Value Matrix   Probability of Damage or Loss Magnitude of Consequences Major Moderate Minor RISK Very Likely Very High  Very High Low Likely Very High  High  Low Possible High Intermediate Low Unlikely Intermediate Low Very Low   1.         Human Life and Safety (HLS):   Threats to life and safety exist along riparian areas and drainages in and below high and moderate severity burn as well as in and below reburn of the Little Bear burn scar.  Road users, private landowners and recreational hikers will be exposed to increased risk of water flow, debris and snags.  Due to loss of vegetative ground cover in the high severity burn, there is a likelihood of increased overland flow and sedimentation. Monsoon storms are often severe, with heavy rainfall, and can easily rain over one inch per hour. This can cause flooding, sediment and debris flows.  High winds can result in snags falling across the burned area, on trails and across roads.  Closures and caution/hazard signs are recommended for trailheads and roads that intersect the burned area. These are for the Forest Service employees and for visitors to be warned and aware of the hazards in accessing this area via the trailheads and roads as access points into the area. Threats to human life and safety along the trails inside and below the burned area, have a probability of Likely with Major consequences for a Very High risk.      2.         Property (P):   The Three Rivers Campground lies directly below the Three Rivers burned area.  This was reviewed and identified as being at a Very High risk for human life and safety and infrastructure integrity loss.  This campground has a BAER treatment recommendation of  closure with hazard/caution signs and removal of potentially floatable materials.  The campground information is listed below:    Three Rivers Campground:  This campground has a total capacity of 162.0 with 15 units, development scale of 3 and recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS) class rural.  The campground contains multiple toilets, a steel equestrian corral, garbage bins, picnic tables, pedestal grills, and sun/wind shelters and pavilions.  There is also a solar powered well and water tank within the campground.  Access to this road is obtained via NFSR 00579 and is the only way in and out.  The potential for entrapment during a heavy rain event, resulting in flooding and sedimentation, is possible.  The campground was assessed of having a Likely probability of damage or loss, with a Major magnitude of consequences, leading to a Very High-Risk assessment.    There are no roads within the Three Rivers burned area, but there are roads below the burn scar.   These roads will be impacted by the predicted increased post-fire water flows at higher flow rates than  the pre-fire flows.  These roads are expected to be impacted by sedimentation, flooding and possibly headcutting.  The engineering field reconnaissance identified three roads that could be compromised, and also provide access points for entering the burn scar.  Post fire effects could compromise the integrity of the roads, posing a safety hazard.  Two of these roads suffered post-fire effects from the Little Bear fire, and with the current post-fire effects, a few of these problems have the potential to resurface.  BAER treatments recommend closures and/or hazard/caution signs to be installed.  Post fire conditions could lead to further erosion and deterioration of the roads.  In one case, a temporary closure of the road is warranted for human health and safety concerns.  The following roads were identified as having a high risk for human life and safety or infrastructure integrity loss:    FSR 579:  This is a 3.4100-mile-long operational maintenance level 3 road made of improved native material.  It is the only access to three rivers campground and trailhead.  Beginning termini is Three Rivers Ranch House and ending termini is NFSR 579 (loop).  This road was assessed with a Possible probability of damage or loss, with a Moderate magnitude of consequences, leading to a risk assessment of Intermediate for the structure.  Human life and safety was assessed with a Likely probability of an event occurring, with Major consequences, giving a safety risk rating of Very High.   FSR 107 A:  This is a 2.2100-mile-long operational maintenance level 2 road made of native material.  Beginning termini is NFSR 107 and ending termini is dead end.  The road is under private jurisdiction from milepost (MP) 0.3000 to MP 0.4200 and is gated at MP 0.3000. The road under forest service jurisdiction remains open from NFSR 107 to the gate and from MP 0.4200 to MP 2.2100. This road was assessed with a Possible probability of damage or loss, with a Moderate magnitude of consequences, leading to a risk assessment of Intermediate.    There are several trails within the Three Rivers burned area. The fire burned primarily in the White Mountain Wilderness. It made a significant run within the large drainages on the west of the mountain range and slopped and spotted into the east side of the range within the perimeter of the Little Bear Fire scar from 2012. Seven trails with a combined 24 miles are directly within and below the burn scar, and will be impacted by post-fire effects. This includes the Three Rivers Trailhead, located directly beneath the Three Rivers side of the burned area.  These are all recommended for closure.  The trails were assessed with a Possible probability of damage with Moderate magnitude of consequences, leading to a risk assessment of Intermediate.  However the human health and safety risk was assessed with a Likely probability of an event to occur, with Major magnitude of consequences, leading to a risk assessment of Very High.    3.         Natural Resources (NR):   Non-Native Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response:  After the Little Bear fire in 2012, the area was documented to have several acres of non-native invasive plant species (NNIS).  This is still the case, and the Three Rivers fire is expected to result in post-fire spreads of these NNIS.  Multiple vectors for invasive plant spread will be evident in the post-fire environment and will include increased water flows, wind, animals, vehicles and sediment movement. Early detection of NNIS is the most economical means of NNIS management. This effort is focusing on the early detection for NNIS. This risk was ranked at a probability of Likely, with a magnitude of Moderate, making this rank as a High risk for NNIS spread, especially in post-fire bare soil conditions.   Emergency Treatment Objectives   Land Treatments: The objective of non-native invasive plant species (NNIS) early detection survey and rapid response (EDRR) treatment is to prevent the establishment or expansion of populations in the recently burned area.    Road and Trail Treatments:  The objective of road stabilization is to lower the risk of damage to Forest Service infrastructure (system roads) by lowering the erosion of the road surface in and below high to moderate burn severity areas and to provide for human safety.  Campground closure, removal of all items not in concrete or bolted down, pulling the pump to the well and capping the well is all part of ensuring human health and safety.  Storm inspection and response objectives during the monsoon season are to ensure the integrity of the BAER road treatments and provide a rapid response with repairs to alleviate any breach in road stabilization.      Protection/Safety Treatments: The primary objective of the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is to recommend prompt actions deemed reasonable and necessary to effectively protect, reduce or minimize significant threats to human life and property and prevent unacceptable degradation of natural resources.  The highest priority of the BAER team is rapid implementation of any treatment regarding human life and safety. The objective of the temporary road, trail and campground closures is to reduce risk to human life and safety.  Closure and warning/hazard signs at the entrances of the roads and trails that intersect the burned area are placed to reduce the risk to human life and safety.  These warn of a closure and that the user is entering a burned area and warn against the increased potential for falling rock and debris, snags, and increased water flow.   The objective of the temporary closure of the Three Rivers burned area through two years is to reduce the risk to human life and safety, and to allow natural recovery of the area by preventing further disturbance across the landscape.    An important objective of the BAER team is to share findings of the assessment and a final burn severity map to NOAA Weather Service, with the anticipated post wildfire watershed effects and associated threats to human safety.  The information is utilized in the development of spot weather forecasts for the burned area. An additional objective is to work with partners for non-forest values at risk, including but not limited to:  Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Corps of Engineers, Otero County, New Mexico State Forestry Department, City of Alamogordo, Mescalero Tribe, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Otero County Electric Coop, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

Updates will now be released every other day unless there is a significant change to report.

Acres: 7,040 acres

Containment: 50%

Vegetation: Grass, dead/down timber, and mixed conifer.

Start Date: April 26, 2021

Cause: Unknown, Under Investigation

Origin Location: ½ mile north of Three Rivers Campground; fire spread towards Ski Apache and the South Fork/Bonito area.

Ruidoso, New Mexico, May 13, 2021 – The Three Rivers Fire remains under the command of a Type-4 interagency organization. Firefighters continue to monitor the fire and are strategically focusing their attention on areas where they can safely construct direct and indirect firelines. 

Yesterday, an increase in relative humidity and light rain showers over the fire area resulted in minimal fire behavior. Additional rain showers are forecasted for Friday. However, red flag conditions are expected over the weekend and, possibly into next week. This weather trend will result in increased fire behavior. Firefighters continue to monitor areas that are inaccessible and look for opportunities to construct firelines where it is safe to do so. They will also continue to work on extinguishing hotspots within the fire perimeter. 

The control lines on the southern edge of the fire, where it had crossed onto Mescalero Apache tribal lands near Indian Creek, are secure and holding. 

In the weeks and months following a fire, it is common for small pockets of unburned or partially burned vegetation within the fire perimeter to continue to smolder and produce smoke. Smoke may be visible during the afternoon and into early evening. Smoke will concentrate in lower elevations during the night and generally lift by mid-morning. Slight winds can be helpful with smoke dispersion.

Fire investigators are still investigating cause of the fire. Once they finalize their report it will be released to the public.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

The Lincoln National Forest and Mescalero Apache Tribal lands are currently under Fire Restrictions. There are no campfires allowed outside of developed campgrounds and no smoking outdoors in the forest.

All previous road closures have been lifted. Three Rivers Campground remains closed. We recommend finding an alternate place to camp and hike that is outside of the Bonito Corridor. 

The Capitan Mountains Wilderness remains open, however there is a closure order in effect for the White Mountains Wilderness; this includes all trails within the wilderness area. For a list of closed trails visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7440/.

More Information:

It is important to recognize that longer, more extreme fire seasons will continue. Southern New Mexico is predicted to have an above normal fire season in 2021. Most of New Mexico is in extreme drought. Everyone in New Mexico should be prepared for an active fire season, learn more about living with wildfire and the “Ready, Set, Go!” principles that will help you take steps to protect your home and your family.

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7440/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFire2021

• Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/smoke-faq.html

• Ready, Set, Go! http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/FireMgt/FirePreventionandOutreachProgram.html   

 Acres: 7,040 acres
 

Containment: 50% 

Vegetation: Grass, dead/down timber, and mixed conifer. 

Start Date: April 26, 2021 

Cause: Unknown, Under Investigation 

Origin Location: ½ mile north of Three Rivers Campground; fire spread towards Ski Apache and the South Fork/Bonito area. 

Ruidoso, New Mexico, May 11, 2021  – On Sunday, May 9th, the Three Rivers Fire transferred to a Type-4 interagency organization due to continued fire suppression success, which has resulted in limited fire activity. The remaining Three Rivers firefighting crews continue to work on extinguishing any hotspots they discover and monitoring the fire area in case the fire does try to progress. The fire perimeter changed slightly due to a small spot fire that had been burning and smoldering for days and eventually burned together with the main fire. This resulted in a slight increase in the overall acreage burned.  

Firefighters continue their efforts to extend control lines south in an area of particularly steep terrain and securing the small portion of the fire that had crossed onto Mescalero Apache tribal lands near Indian Creek.  

In the weeks and months following a fire, it is common for small pockets of unburned or partially burned vegetation within the fire perimeter to continue to smolder and produce smoke. Smoke may be visible during the afternoon and into early evening. Smoke will concentrate at lower elevations during the night and generally lift by mid-morning. Slight winds can be helpful with smoke dispersion. 

Closures and Fire Restrictions 

The Lincoln National Forest and Mescalero Apache Tribal lands are currently under Fire Restrictions. There are no campfires allowed outside of developed campgrounds and no smoking outdoors in the forest.  

All previous road closures have been lifted. Three Rivers Campground remains closed. We recommend finding another place to camp and hike outside of the Bonito Corridor.  

The Capitan Mountains Wilderness remains open, however there is a closure order in effect for the White Mountains Wilderness; this includes all trails within the wilderness area. 

• T12 Telephone Canyon Trail 
• T16 Miners Road Trail 
• T18 Peacock Trail 

• T19 Southfork Trail 
• T20 Rodamaker Trail 
• T22 Mills Canyon Trail 
• T23 Sanders Ridge Trail 
• T24 Dry Mills Trail 

• T25 Crest Trail 
• T26 Nogal Peak Trail 
• T27 Spring Canyon Trail 
• T29 Phantom Trail 
• T31 Maverick Trail 

• T33 Bluefront Trail 
• T34 Norman Canyon Trail 
• T35 Aspen Trail 
• T36 Big Bonito Trail 
• T37 Little Bonito Trail 

• T38 Cut Across Trail 
• T39 Argentina Canyon Trail 
• T40 Turkey Canyon Trail 
• T41 Skull Springs Trail 
• T42 Clear Water Trail 

• T43 Oak Ridge Trail 
• T44 Three Rivers Trail 
• T46 Dry Canyon Trail 
• T47 Goat Canyon Trail 
• T48 Nogal Canyon Trail 

• T49 Barber Ridge Trail 
• T50 Doherty Ridge Trail 
• T51 Pennsylvania Canyon Trail 
• T52 Gaylord Trail 
• T53 Water Canyon Trail 

• T54 Tortolita Canyon Trail 
• T55 Church Mountain Trail 
• T77 North Eagle Creek Trail 

More Information: 

It is important to recognize that longer, more extreme fire seasons will continue. Southern New Mexico is predicted to have an above normal fire season in 2021. Most of New Mexico is in extreme drought. Everyone in New Mexico should be prepared for an active fire season, learn more about living with wildfire and the “Ready, Set, Go!” principles that will help you take steps to protect your home and your family. 

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7440/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFire2021 
• Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19: 
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/smoke-faq.html 
• Ready, Set, Go!  http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/FireMgt/FirePreventionandOutreachProgram.html    

  

Three Rivers Fire Update – May 8, 2021

This will be the final update for the Three Rivers Fire. If you have fire questions, please contact the Smokey Bear Ranger District at (575) 257-4095.

 

Acres: 7,033 acres

Containment: 40%

Resources: 71

Vegetation: Grass, dead/down timber, and mixed conifer.

Start Date: April 26, 2021

Cause: Unknown, Under Investigation

Origin Location: ½ mile north of Three Rivers Campground; fire spread towards Ski Apache and the South Fork/Bonito area.

 

Ruidoso, New Mexico, May 6, 2021 – Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) efforts began on the Three Rivers Fire burn scar. Resource specialists are beginning to assess the area that burned and come up with a detailed plan on how best to rehabilitate the landscape. Wildlife biologists and botanists will check habitat for endangered animals and plants. Soil samples taken by soil scientists will determine how hot the fire burned and to what level the soil has been damaged by the heat. Hydrologists will begin the lengthy process to address flooding that is common after wildfires.

Yesterday crews completed control lines along the west side of the fire coming down from the Big Bear area. Isolated smoke from a smoldering log was seen yesterday by firefighters who flew a reconnaissance mission in a helicopter, however the perimeter of the fire has not grown for over a week. It is common for trees to smolder for weeks or months after a wildfire, however firefighters still remain on the line to address any issues they may see. All the smoldering stumps have been interior to the fire perimeter and not along the edge.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

This year is unfortunately predicted to be an “above normal” fire year for all of southern New Mexico due to extreme drought conditions. The Lincoln National Forest and Mescalero Apache Tribal Lands have been in fire restrictions for many weeks now and will likely continue to be through the entire summer. There are no campfires allowed outside of developed campgrounds and no smoking outdoors in the Forest. Fireworks are ALWAYS prohibited on National Forests. Please help us spread the word about these critical fire restrictions.

There is a new closure order for the Three Rivers Campground and trailhead and the White Mountains Wilderness remains closed; this includes all trails within the wilderness area. We recommend finding another place to camp, picnic and hike outside of the Bonito Corridor by visiting www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/lincoln/recreation.

More Information:

·     InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7440/

·     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFire2021

PROHIBITIONS Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited within the area described in this Order (the “Restricted Area”) and as depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A, within the Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest, Lincoln County within the State of New Mexico. 1. Entering into or being upon the Restricted Area. 36 C.F.R. §261.53(e).

EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. §261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order: 1. Persons with a Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order. 2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

PURPOSE 
The purpose of this Order is to protect the public’s health and safety due to an unstable and hazardous geologic formation. Post fire flooding and debris flows are frequently four times more than pre-fire conditions. Large boulders and woody debris are abundant in the Three Rivers stream channel that can easily be transported downstream causing serious injury or death due to extremely steep slopes and unstable high severity burned soils. 

RESTRICTED AREA 
The Restricted Area is within Township 10 South, Range 10 East, northeast portion of Section 34, specifically, all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the Three Rivers Campground and Trailhead. The western boundary of the Restricted Area is located at the end of County Road 579. The latitude/longitude coordinates of the four corners of the Restricted Area boundary are: 33.398, -105.882; 33.398, -105.889; 33.404, -105.889; and 33.404, -105.882. The latitude/longitude coordinate of the Three Rivers Trailhead are 33.402, -105.882. 

IMPLEMENTATION  
1. This Order will be effective on May 8, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., and shall remain in effect until December 31, 2021, or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. 2. A map identifying the Restricted Area is attached and made a part of this Order as Exhibit A. 3. Any violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for individuals and $10,000.00 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both (see 16 U.S.C. § 551, 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(6), 18 U.S.C. § 3581(b)(7)). 4. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Smokey Bear Ranger District located in Ruidoso, NM, telephone number 575-257-4095 and at the Lincoln National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Alamogordo, NM, telephone number 575-434-7200. Forest alerts are also available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices 5. This Order supersedes any previous orders prohibiting the same acts covered by this Order. 

Updates will now be released every other day unless there is a significant change.

Acres: 7,033 acres

Containment: 33%

Resources: 132

Vegetation: Grass, dead/down timber, and mixed conifer.

Start Date: April 26, 2021: 8:00 am

Cause: Unknown, Under Investigation

Origin Location: ½ mile north of Three Rivers Campground; fire spread towards Ski Apache and the South Fork/Bonito area.

Ruidoso, New Mexico, May 6, 2021 – The Three Rivers Fire, was transferred to a Type-3 interagency organization after limited fire activity was observed for seven days. Firefighting crews remain assigned to the Three Rivers Fire. They continue to work each day, extinguishing any hotspots they discover and monitoring the fire area in case the fire does try to progress. However, the perimeter of the fire has not grown for several days.

Over the past few days, firefighters have been diligently extending control lines south in an area of particularly steep terrain, hooking around the small portion of the fire that had crossed onto Mescalero Apache tribal lands near Indian Creek.

In the weeks and months following a fire, it is common for small pockets of unburned or partially burned vegetation within the fire perimeter to continue to smolder and produce smoke, especially during the heat of the day.

Closures and Fire Restrictions

The Lincoln National Forest and Mescalero Apache Tribal lands are currently under Fire Restrictions. There are no campfires allowed outside of developed campgrounds and no smoking outdoors in the forest. All previous road closures have been lifted. Three Rivers Campground remains closed. We recommend finding another place to camp and hike outside of the Bonito Corridor. There is a closure order for the White Mountains Wilderness; this includes all trails within the wilderness area.

• T12 Telephone Canyon Trail
• T16 Miners Road Trail
• T18 Peacock Trail
• T19 Southfork Trail
• T20 Rodamaker Trail
• T22 Mills Canyon Trail
• T23 Sanders Ridge Trail
• T24 Dry Mills Trail
• T25 Crest Trail
• T26 Nogal Peak Trail
• T27 Spring Canyon Trail
• T29 Phantom Trail
• T31 Maverick Trail
• T33 Bluefront Trail
• T34 Norman Canyon Trail
• T35 Aspen Trail
• T36 Big Bonito Trail
• T37 Little Bonito Trail
• T38 Cut Across Trail
• T39 Argentina Canyon Trail
• T40 Turkey Canyon Trail
• T41 Skull Springs Trail
• T42 Clear Water Trail
• T43 Oak Ridge Trail
• T44 Three Rivers Trail
• T46 Dry Canyon Trail
• T47 Goat Canyon Trail
• T48 Nogal Canyon Trail
• T49 Barber Ridge Trail
• T50 Doherty Ridge Trail
• T51 Pennsylvania Canyon Trail
• T52 Gaylord Trail
• T53 Water Canyon Trail
• T54 Tortolita Canyon Trail
• T55 Church Mountain Trail
• T77 North Eagle Creek Trail

More Information:

It is important to recognize that longer, more extreme fire seasons are likely to continue. Southern New Mexico is predicted to have an above normal fire season in 2021, with most of New Mexico already in extreme drought. Now is a good time to start learning about living with wildfire and the Ready, Set, Go! principles that will help you take steps to protect your home and your family.

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7440/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFire2021
• Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/smoke-faq.html
• Ready, Set, Go! http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/FireMgt/FirePreventionandOutreachProgram.html   

The following areas campgrounds, and trails are closed due to the fire. 

1. The White Mountain Wilderness 
2. Three Rivers Campground
3. All Trails within the wilderness boundary

 T12 Telephone Canyon Trail
 T16 Miners Road Trail
 T18 Peacock Trail
 T19 Southfork Trail
 T20 Rodamaker Trail
 T22 Mills Canyon Trail
 T23 Sanders Ridge Trail
 T24 Dry Mills Trail
 T25 Crest Trail
 T26 Nogal Peak Trail
 T27 Spring Canyon Trail
 T29 Phantom Trail
 T31 Maverick Trail
 T33 Bluefront Trail
 T34 Norman Canyon Trail
 T35 Aspen Trail
 T36 Big Bonito Trail
 T37 Little Bonito Trail
 T38 Cut Across Trail
 T39 Argentina Canyon Trail
 T40 Turkey Canyon Trail
 T41 Skull Springs Trail
 T42 Clear Water Trail
 T43 Oak Ridge Trail
 T44 Three Rivers Trail
 T46 Dry Canyon Trail
 T47 Goat Canyon Trail
 T48 Nogal Canyon Trail
 T49 Barber Ridge Trail
 T50 Doherty Ridge Trail
 T51 Pennsylvania Canyon Trail
 T52 Gaylord Trail
 T53 Water Canyon Trail
 T54 Tortolita Canyon Trail
 T55 Church Mountain Trail
 T77 North Eagle Creek Trail

Acres: 7,033 acres

Containment: 30%

Resources: 242

Vegetation: Grass, dead/down timber, and mixed conifer.

Start Date: April 26, 2021: 8:00 am

Cause: Unknown, Under Investigation

Origin Location: ½ mile north of Three Rivers Campground; fire spread towards Ski Apache and the South Fork/Bonito area

Ruidoso, New Mexico, May 5, 2021 – Crews continue to focus on the northern, western, and southern part of the fire. Considerable progress was made yesterday increasing and strengthening control lines along the perimeter of the fire, particularly on the north/northeast side of the fire. Fires in New Mexico typically are driven by southwestern winds that push the fire to the northeast, therefore, we are prioritizing working on the northeastern part of the fire, should the fire want to make an unexpected run in the future. The eastern side of the fire has shown little to no activity over the past few days thanks in part to the rain and snow received last week and also the limited fuel available to burn after the fire entered the Little Bear Fire scar.

Due to an ongoing pattern of lower fire activity, command of the Three Rivers Fire has been transferred to a Type-3 interagency organization under Incident Commander Manuel Martinez. Today, crews will be placed strategically around the fire and continue to monitor for and extinguish any hotspots, as well as begin suppression repair work.

Suppression repair involves the repair of any damage caused by the suppression actions during the fire. In areas where the fire is contained, suppression-repair crews begin to remove fire equipment and return sensitive areas to as natural a condition as possible.

Small pockets of unburned vegetation still remain within the perimeter of the fire and during the peak burning period, which is mid-day to late afternoon, may produce visible smoke, which can continue to smolder for weeks as is common after a fire.

Most of the Lincoln National Forest is open to visitors, however, the Forest and Mescalero Apache Tribal lands are currently under Fire Restrictions. A closure order has been issued for a portion of the White Mountains Wilderness and Three Rivers Campground. The purpose of the Order is to protect public health and safety during the Three Rivers Fire. See the links below for additional information on Fire Restrictions, Closures, and maps.

It is important to recognize that longer, more extreme fire seasons are likely to continue. With most of southern New Mexico already in extreme drought, the 2021 fire season is now upon us. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to start learning about living with wildfire and Ready, Set, Go! principles that will help you take steps to protect your home and your family.

 

ROAD CLOSURES

• Bonito Canyon Road past the Bonito Lake Dam
• Nogal Canyon Road past the Nogal Peak Trailhead
• Three Rivers Trailhead and Campground
• Monjeau Lookout at Sierra Vista

 

MORE INFORMATION:

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7440/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFire2021
• Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/smoke-faq.html
• Ready, Set, Go! http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/FireMgt/FirePreventionandOutreachProgram.html