Start Date: October 28, 2024
Cause: Unknown
Size: 323 acres
Containment: 52%
Location: 4 miles west of Alto, 9 miles northwest of Ruidoso, located in the Blue 2 wildfire footprint in the White Mountain Wilderness
Resources: (3) type 6 engines from the USFS and BLM and 1 helicopter 
Personnel: 25
Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Grass, shrubs, dead/down fuel
Strategy: Full Suppression with direct and indirect tactics    
Road Closures: None
Smoke: Light smoke may be visible from the surrounding areas 
Update: There has been no new growth of the Blue Front Fire in the last three days. Firefighters are working to make sure the perimeter of the South Fork area is secure. Crews will be extinguishing any interior heat spots that might still exist.
Firefighters are utilizing the South Fork Trail to further accomplish their suppression efforts. When the work is complete and public access is deemed safe, a public announcement will be released to advise that the South Fork Trail is officially open. The Crest Trail is being used to access the fire area from the North and is currently open. 
There are currently no closures in place, please use caution traveling in the fire area there are still firefighters and equipment in the Blue Front fire area.
Weather: Cooler temperatures have been observed with the approaching front. There is a chance of precipitation in the form of rain and snow beginning Sunday night.

Evacuations: Bonito Corridor remains in “Ready” status
 

This is the final Update for the Pack Trail Fire

People & Equipment: 73 Personnel, 2 Crews, 1 Local Engine, 1 Helicopter, 1 Ambulance 

Current Situation: The Pack Trail Fire is 89,930 acres, Fire Confinement 95%

Operations – Recent snowfall has restricted access to a large area of the fire perimeter and is expected to persist in the days ahead. The fire is in a patrol and monitor status as interior smoke and heat are still present. The fire will be monitored by the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests as needed. Winter weather and increased fuel moistures should continue to reduce any threats of continuing fire activity. Suppression repair activities have been completed in all areas still accessible to resources.

Safety – Residents and visitors are reminded to exercise extreme caution when dealing with fires or other possible ignition sources.  Please use caution while driving near the fire areas, especially on narrow secondary roads due to snow or ice accumulation. Be Very Careful on reopened roads in and near the fire area. Check with WY-DOT for updated road conditions, especially if you are planning to travel on US-26 across the Continental Divide. 

Weather—Widespread snow showers are expected to continue through Wednesday as additional disturbances move across the area and colder air is ushered in. Weather patterns will be seasonal with intermittent snow and cold temperatures. The cold temperatures and snow will continue to decrease any fire activity. The weather forecast is predicted to bring fire-season ending conditions.

Evacuations – The Fremont County Emergency Management Agency has lifted all evacuation levels for the Union Pass subdivision, Lava Mountain Lodge, Triangle C Ranch, and Old Mackenzie Ranch, effective October 30, 2024.  All evacuation areas within the Pack Trail Fire have been lifted. See the Fremont County Emergency Management Facebook Page or the Teton County Emergency Management website for additional information. 

Road Closures – The Union Pass Road on the Pinedale Ranger District (BTNF) from Mosquito Lake to the Moon Lake Road on the Wind River District (SHO) will be open effective 6:00am Monday, November 4, 2024. Moon Lake Road will be open effective 6:00am Monday, November 4, 2024. 

Forest Closures - Closure Order #04-03-24-317 will be rescinded effective 6:00am Monday, November 4, 2024. The forest areas described in Closure Order #04-03-24-317 are now open.

For more information, visit: Bridger-Teton Forest website - https://www.fs.usda.gov/btnf  Facebook: USDA Forest Service - Shoshone National Forest  Pack Trail Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-pack-trail-fire 

7:00 p.m. Ignitions on the Headquarters Unit of the Front Country Prescribed Fire have been successfully completed, with approximately 100 acres treated during the past two days. Crews were successful in introducing low-to-moderate intensity fire on the landscape and have removed fuels, including grasses and low shrubs. Another goal of this prescribed fire was to raise the bottoms of the canopies of trees and to increase crown spacing within the fire area. To do this, some low branches on trees may burn in addition to the grasses and nearby brush. Raising the “crown base height” of trees decreases the likelihood that a future wildfire would move into the canopies of the trees. This work will help serve as a fuel break against potential future wildfires.

Fire crews will remain on site overnight. Visibility along U.S. Highway 36 has improved and smoke will continue to linger. U.S. Highway 36 inside Rocky Mountain National Park has reopened in both directions. 

Fire Managers at Rocky Mountain National Park would like to thank all of the personnel involved in this operation over the past two days. Numerous cooperators, including federal, state, and local partners have been working with NPS staff in a variety of roles to ensure the safety of both firefighters and the visiting public. An evening video update will be available on Rocky Mountain National Park's social media and Rocky's YouTube Channel. 

4:00 p.m. Crews have completed ignitions for the day. Firefighters will be patrolling unit boundaries until dark, when night shift will begin patrolling through the night. Due to low visibility and smoke from late afternoon ignitions, highway 36 from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to Bear Lake Road junction was temporarily closed. Visitors traveling to Rocky Mountain National Park should use U.S. Highway 34 via Fall River Entrance to enter and exit Rocky Mountain National Park. 

2:30 p.m. Crews have completed the first section of today's prescribed fire and are moving on to another section, which will move operations south of Highway 36 and the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Motorists are asked to be vigilant as fire operations continue along the roadway. All eastbound traffic continues to be routed through the Fall River Entrance/U.S. Highway 34 back to Estes Park. 

1:00 p.m. Winds have shifted to being out of the east/southeast, which has caused smoke to largely blow into Rocky Mountain National Park. Crews will be reconfiguring to continue firing operations with the wind shift. 

11:30 a.m. Weather & conditions are favorable for crews to continue with firing operations today, Saturday, November 2. Approximately 50 firefighters representing several cooperating agencies will be part of today’s operations. Ignitions began at 11:00 a.m. just south of Highway 36, south of the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station.

Visitors traveling to the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park are encouraged to use Fall River Entrance via U.S. Highway 34 when entering and exiting the park. Expect traffic delays and smoke on the roadway along U.S. Highway 36 inside RMNP.

Today, U.S. Highway 36 will be open to west-bound traffic only from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to Beaver Meadows Entrance. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when driving on U.S. Highway 36 between the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Bear Lake Road due to smoke, visibility, and fire crews working along the road. To exit RMNP on the east side of the park, use Fall River Entrance/U.S. Highway 34 to return to Estes Park.

Smoke impacts west of the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station and Bear Lake road are expected to be minimal.

In person fire information will be available at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center until 4:30 p.m. Additional updates will be available on the park's official social media channels and on this InciWeb page

Start Date: October 28, 2024
Cause: Unknown
Size: 323 acres
Location: 4 miles west of Alto, 9 miles northwest of Ruidoso, located in the Blue 2 wildfire footprint in the White Mountain Wilderness.
Resources: Smokey Bear Hotshot module, 2 Type 1 Hand Crews, 1 helicopter, 3 engines
Personnel: 79 
Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Grass, shrubs, dead/down fuel
Containment: 50%
Strategy: Full Suppression with direct and indirect tactics    Road Closures: None
Smoke: Light smoke may be visible from the surrounding areas. 

Update: Firefighters continue to clear South Fork and Blue Front trails for improved access. A good portion of the work has been completed in the South Fork area. Crews will secure the fire perimeter and interior heat with the goal of preventing any further growth.
The majority of fire activity consists of scattered heat sources within the fire perimeter that will continue to the extinguished by firefighters. 

Weather: Weather conditions continue to be monitored. Gusty, erratic winds are expected as a disturbance approaches from the southwest.

Evacuations: None currently. Bonito Corridor remains in “Ready” status
 

SHOE FIRE 

DAILY UPDATE 

November 2, 2024 

Email: 2024.shoe@firenet.gov 

Incident Website: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cashf-shoe-fire 

Forest Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/stnf 

Fire Weather Forecast: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/CAFW?area=ECC005 

Fire Information Line: 530-338-0317 (Staffed 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM)

Quick Facts:

Location: Shasta County, CA │ Start Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:57 PM │ Cause: Human 

Size: 5,124 │ Containment: 95%│ Vegetation: Timber, Chapparal │ Total Personnel Assigned: 344 

Numerous areas around the fire perimeter remain saturated and muddy from rainfall yesterday; approximately an inch and a half of rain fell over the past 24 hours. Firefighters were successful in reaching some work sites yesterday but avoided travelling on roads that were too muddy to safely traverse. Work continued yesterday morning in areas that were accessible, but afternoon efforts were hampered due to heavy rain showers. An excavator was relocated to the north side of the fire to clean up and repair mechanically constructed containment lines. Fire suppression repair work along Garden Ridge was completed yesterday and chipping operations continue nearby. Excess fire resources, especially hand crews and engines, continue to be released from the fire as their tasks are completed. At this stage of suppression repairs, most of the remaining work requires the use of specialized heavy equipment. Suppression repair along Curl Ridge is ongoing and mastication work continues on the northwestern fire perimeter. Two road graders will be working along Fenders Ferry Road east of McCloud Bridge today. Heavy fuels far into the interior of the fire will continue to smolder, especially as weather warms and fuels dry over the next few days. However, there is no threat of the fire escaping from established containment lines. 

WEATHER: The low-pressure system that brough rain to the region will slowly move out this afternoon and be replaced by a strengthening ridge of high pressure. Widespread showers will linger through a majority of the day today, then weaken and end tonight. Afternoon temperatures will warm up 5-10 degrees from Friday with highs mainly in the low to mid 50s. Winds will be variable but light. High pressure will strengthen on Sunday and will shift the winds to north-northeast. This will continue the warming trend with high temperatures up another 3-5 degrees with highs in the upper 50s accompanied by a drying trend. Winds will be northwest in the morning and will shift to the northeast by Sunday afternoon.

CLOSURES AND SAFETY: 

• Fenders Ferry Road at Pit River 7 Bridge: West-Bound Fenders Ferry Road (Also known as 34N17 - Forest Service Road 27) at the Pit River Bridge/Pit 7 
• Ferry Road is closed at McCloud Bridge: East-Bound Fenders Ferry Road at the McCloud River Bridge 
• A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_2632.html. Drones are prohibited from flying in fire areas. 
• A temporary Forest closure is in effect https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5392380

Rush Fire

Fire Information - 580-257-7839        2024.Rush@FireNet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/okwmr-rush-fire 
Facebook: @WichitaMountainsWildlifeRefuge

Saturday November 2, 2024

This will be the last Daily Update for the Rush Fire. For additional information on the Rush Fire, email wmr_visitorservices@fws.gov or call 580-215-1858.

Overview: The Rush Fire is primarily on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and lands administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Oklahoma Forestry Services. The Rush Fire is currently 12,488 acres and 87% contained.  

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters used maps from an overnight infrared flight to pinpoint heat close to the fire perimeter to ensure complete mop up of all hot spots. Along the northeastern fire perimeter, firefighters cleared vegetation and trees from around the refuge perimeter fence in anticipation of fence repairs. Engines and firefighters were released at the end of the shift due to the forecast weather over the weekend. 

As of this morning, the Southern Area Red Team has transferred command of the Rush Fire back to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The refuge will continue monitoring the fire and suppression repair after the storms pass and conditions allow. 

Weather/Fire Behavior: Heavy rain and severe weather is forecast across the central and southern Plains this weekend. Large hail and strong winds will be the primary threats. A Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms has been issued. Consecutive days of heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding across the area on Sunday. A Moderate Risk for excessive rainfall has been issued.

Air Quality: Communities around the Rush Fire will experience Good Air Quality today. Current Smoke Outlook

Closures and Restrictions: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is currently closed due to smoke impacts from the Rush Fire and to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public. This closure is for all public use areas, including Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area, Dog Run Hollow Trail System, Boulder Cabin and Picnic Areas, Lost Lake, Doris Campground, the Environmental Education Center, the Visitor Center, Holy City, the Parallel Forest, and Mount Scott.  

All entrance points to the refuge are closed. There are road closures on Highway 115 at the Cache and Meers Gates, on Highway 49 at the West Gate located Northwest of Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area and at the Medicine Park Refuge entrance. Indiahoma Road is also closed South of Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area. Entering a closed National Wildlife Refuge is a violation of federal law and is cause for fine or arrest.

Comanche County has a countywide burn ban in effect.

Rush Fire Smoke OUtlook for 11/2-3/2024

FIRE The Rush Fire fire is currently estimated at 12488 acres and is 87% contained. Fire activity for the Rush Fire fire is expected to remain low. 

SMOKE GOOD air quality to continue in the fire area on the refuge. Rain today with southwest winds. No smoke in the area for the weekend. Thunderstorms and rain to continue in the forecast area. 

HEALTH STATEMENT Smoke can be harmful to your health. Check with your doctor if there are any health concerns and monitor your local air quality conditions using the Fire and Smoke Map.

November 1:
4:30 p.m. Crews have stopped ignitions on the Front Country Prescribed Fire for today after successfully completing approximately 50 acres of the Headquarters Unit. Crews will be in the field into the evening to ensure that areas completed today remain within the unit boundaries. Firefighters will also be staffing overnight to monitor the fire area. 

Smoke may continue to rise from the units burned today and flames may be visible as fuels inside the units consume. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas. Firefighters are planning to continue with the prescribed fire tomorrow, if conditions allow. Stay tuned to Rocky's social media and Inciweb tomorrow for additional updates in the morning.  

3:00 p.m. Fire crews are beginning working on a smaller section of the Headquarters Unit southwest of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Firefighters will continue patrolling the areas that have been completed already today to mop up and ensure that fire remains within the unit boundaries.

12:36 p.m. Ignitions are continuing and fire behavior is ideal for completing project objectives. Smoke has been light to moderate in the Beaver Meadows area during ignitions.

11:20 a.m. Test fire was successful and crews will be continuing ignitions just west and south of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and progressing west south of Highway 36 within the park.

11:03 a.m. Firefighter have started the test fire to verify conditions and ensure fire is achieving objectives.

10:00 a.m. Crews have been briefed and will be ready for the test fire at approximately 11:00 a.m.

Start Date: October 28, 2024

Cause: Unknown

Size: 323 acres

Location: 4 miles west of Alto, 9 miles northwest of Ruidoso, located in the Blue 2 wildfire footprint in the White Mountain Wilderness.

Resources: Smokey Bear Hotshot module, 2 Type 1 Hand Crews, 2 helicopters, 3 engines

Personnel:  79 

Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Grass, shrubs, dead/down fuels

Containment: 0%

Strategy: Full Suppression with direct and indirect tactics   Road Closures: None

Smoke: Light

Update: With the winds moderating, no new growth was detected. Fire activity is comprised of scattered heat and is most intense where the fire perimeter intersects the South Fork Trail in the drainage bottom.

Yesterday resources cleared 3.8 miles of the South Fork Trail to be used as an egress to the fire’s edge. The fire perimeter was checked for hot spots and “cold trailed” a method where firefighters feel for heat. Helicopters were utilized by ground resources to extinguish heat in the interior and along the perimeter. According to the IC, “It was a very productive day.”

Today’s plan is to secure the southern edge of the fire perimeter utilizing natural features and existing trail systems with the intent to prevent any further growth on either side of the South Fork Trail. 

Weather: Very dry conditions continue with seasonal temperatures. Higher humidity is expected to start on Friday. 

Evacuations: None currently. The Bonito corridor remains in “Ready” status. 

More Information:

Blue Front Fire Information: 575 323-8990                                                                                          Blue Front Fire E-mail:  2024.BlueFront@Firenet.gov 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568076357114

NM Fire Info: www.NMFireInfo.com

InciWeb:https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmlnf-blue-front-fire

SHOE FIRE 

DAILY UPDATE 

November 1, 2024 

Email: 2024.shoe@firenet.gov 

Incident Website: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cashf-shoe-fire 

Forest Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/stnf 

Fire Weather Forecast: https://www.weather.gov/wrh/CAFW?area=ECC005 

Fire Information Line: 530-338-0317 (Staffed 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM)

Quick Facts:

Location: Shasta County, CA │ Start Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:57 PM │ Cause: Human 

Size: 5,124 │ Containment: 90%│ Vegetation: Timber, Chapparal │ Total Personnel Assigned: 353 

Yesterday, crews were able to access work areas, although intermittent heavy showers slowed repair work at times. Firefighters patrolled and monitored along the west and north sides of the fire, where repairs are complete. Firefighters continue to make progress working along Curl Ridge up to Curl Point. A dozer worked on improving drainage features along indirect control line on the eastern side of the fire perimeter, and repair work along Garden Ridge is nearing completion. An excavator continued to construct water bars to improve drainage along Wheeler Nursery Road. Fire crews hiked in to install water bars in areas too steep for equipment to operate. Firefighters completed mastication work along the East Fork of Sulanharas Creek. Along the southern fire perimeter, heavy equipment was challenged by the wet conditions the majority of the day which prevented access to worksites. A grader attempted to continue operations on Fenders Ferry Road but was also hampered by the extremely wet conditions. That grader will move to the west side of Fenders Ferry Road today to work on road repairs. Fire managers continue to meet with personnel from the local forest to plan the transition for incident management back to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, which is scheduled to take place on November 5. Incident-related equipment and infrastructure located in a remote fire camp at Hirz Bay Campground is being removed and crews and heavy equipment are being released from the incident as they complete their tasks.

WEATHER: Cool and unsettled weather will continue into Saturday as the upper-level low lingers over the region. Showers will decrease in intensity early this morning, but will pick up in intensity with moderate to heavy precipitation late in the day and into Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon the low will push east of the area and high pressure will move into the region. The flow will turn northerly, for the beginning of a drying and warming trend with temperatures into the 50s.

CLOSURES AND SAFETY: 

• Fenders Ferry Road at Pit River 7 Bridge: West-Bound Fenders Ferry Road (Also known as 34N17 - Forest Service Road 27) at the Pit River Bridge/Pit 7 
• Ferry Road is closed at McCloud Bridge: East-Bound Fenders Ferry Road at the McCloud River Bridge 
• A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_2632.html. Drones are prohibited from flying in fire areas. 
• A temporary Forest closure is in effect https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5392380