Today, fuel crews on Descanso Ranger District are burning 20 acres of piles off Los Hurcos Rd in the Mount Laguna area, and 15 acres of piles off Bear Valley Rd near Long Valley Rd south of Pine Valley. Residents & visitors may see smoke from Sunrise Hwy the I-8, and surrounding communities. Residents & visitors may see smoke from Sunrise Hwy the I-8, Pine Valley and surrounding communities. We ask the public not to call 911 if smoke is seen in these areas. 

3/4/24 - The Cleveland National Forest (CNF) Palomar Ranger District (PRD) is set to initiate prescribed fire preparation on the following projects:

Prescribed Fire Preparation:

Jeff Valley (maps 1-2) – Crews may be working on handlines and various pile burn prep activities.

Palomar Fuel breaks (map 3) – Crews may be working on various preparations for burning.

Fry Creek (map 4) – Crews may be working on various preparations for burning.

North Ramona FB West (map 5) – Urban Corp Crew cut/pile work continues, estimated completion in May.

Prescribed Fire:

We will be evaluating site conditions today and possibly setting up for pile burning in Jeff Valley this week – since March 1 we’ve had 1.8” of rain (Palomar RAWS) so we may need to allow some drying before our next entry. When we do burn, activity could occur in multiple units if we need to move to locations that are more receptive to burn (shelter/different fuels). Targeted units for burning progression are 3/8 (units west of Conifer Rd., below homes on Birch Hill), or/and 9/4/6. Jeff Valley is the priority, but we will continue to monitor weather, fuels, and access conditions for other burn projects.

 Palomar Mt. Piles –

Jeff Valley: Burning could go multiple days with the right conditions. Units 11/12/13/14/15 are considered completed, except for a few piles remaining within these unit areas that hold moisture and/or are more difficult to light. Any piles remaining will be targeted with future broadcast burning.

*Acres burned in Jeff Valley to date: estimated 91 acres. Crews had two successful burns in Jeff Valley last week: est. 40 acres burned in units 14/15 on 2/27, and 20 acres burned in units 11/12 on 2/28; for an approximated 60 acres burned last week.

The machine piles at the landing (near unit 11) have not been burned – waiting for the right weather opportunity…tricky to plan for with winds and ground conditions (prefer significant snow), as these piles could have the potential to hold heat and produce smoke for many days.

Fry Creek: priority units are 8a/b & 2a/b. Jeff Valley is a priority over Fry Creek, but it is possible that we could burn piles in Fry Creek with significant snow on the ground.

Palomar Fuel breaks – prescribed burning may occur with available burn windows.

Admin/Station Piles – pile burning could occur anytime conditions are favorable.

North Ramona Fuel break – prescribed burning complete for the burn season.

*Total acres burned on North Ramona FB: 258 acres.

Texas Commission On environmental quality has an active daily updated site for air quality monitoring:

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/cgi-bin/compliance/monops/select_curlev.pl?user_param=88502

Due to the Windy Deuce Fire, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monumet is closed. There is no access to these areas for the visiting public.

Nearby Lake Meredith has closures as well:Closures: Plum Creek, Mullinaw, McBride Canyon, Harbor Bay, Cas Johnson Rd., and Alibates Road. For visitor safety, please do not enter these areas, there is no access to these areas.

Smokehouse Creek, Windy Deuce and Grape Vine Creek Fires
March 2, 2024

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT

Smokehouse Creek Fire: Additional engine crews were assigned and will continue to strengthen control lines and mop-up along the perimeter of the fire. Six dozers will assist ground personnel and continue to construct fire lines where needed. The northern perimeter of the fire features many canyons where fireline is difficult to construct. Primary efforts today are holding the lines on the north side of the fire, as predicted strong southwest winds will test the established perimeter and has the potential to push the fire to the northeast.

Windy Deuce Fire: Additional engine crews were assigned and are continuing to construct and strengthen lines along the perimeter of the fire, mopping up hot spots near the lines. Dozers will continue to build and strengthen control lines. Fire personnel will be extremely vigilant along the northern perimeter of the fire due to the predicted southwest wind events.

Grape Vine Creek Fire: This fire now has four engines working to cool and control firelines, along with mopping up hot spots near the perimeter. Crews will be working near the east end of the fire to hold the current footprint of the fire.

WEATHER and FIRE BEHAVIOR:
A RED FLAG warning has been issued starting at noon today and will last through Sunday. Temperatures will reach into the mid-70s, with winds out of the southwest ranging from 15-25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph are predicted. Relative humidity may reach into single digits. Any moisture received two days ago is expected to be completely gone by mid-day. Grass fuels will be very receptive to any heat sources remaining in the fire. Fire has the potential to move at 1-3 mph and burn as quickly as 900-1500 acres in an hour.

MAJOR CLOSURES:
No road closures are in place at this time. Please contact the local sheriffs’ websites for the most current roads update.

BURN BANS:
Burn Bans in effect for Hemphill, Roberts, Potter, Moore and Gray Counties. Please use the following link to see additional Texas counties with burn bans: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/TexasBurnBans/

Fire Information Line: (806) 370-2179 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Email: 2024.TexasPanhandle@firenet.gov
Inciweb: Smokehouse Creek: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/txtxs-smokehouse-creek-fire, Windy Deuce: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/txtxs-windy-deuce-fire, Grape Vine Creek: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/txtxs-grape-vine-creek-fire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllHazardsTFS/

The ongoing fires in the Texas Panhandle have affected multiple counties and displaced many families. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has provided verified relief information, which is attached. Resources for both those affected and those wanting to donate can be found on the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension website.

Smokehouse Creek, Windy Deuce and Grape Vine Creek Fires
March 2, 2024

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT

Smokehouse Creek Fire: Additional engine crews were assigned and will continue to strengthen control lines and mop-up along the perimeter of the fire. Six dozers will assist ground personnel and continue to construct fire lines where needed. The northern perimeter of the fire features many canyons where fireline is difficult to construct. Primary efforts today are holding the lines on the north side of the fire, as predicted strong southwest winds will test the established perimeter and has the potential to push the fire to the northeast.

Windy Deuce Fire: Additional engine crews were assigned and are continuing to construct and strengthen lines along the perimeter of the fire, mopping up hot spots near the lines. Dozers will continue to build and strengthen control lines. Fire personnel will be extremely vigilant along the northern perimeter of the fire due to the predicted southwest wind events.

Grape Vine Creek Fire: This fire now has four engines working to cool and control firelines, along with mopping up hot spots near the perimeter. Crews will be working near the east end of the fire to hold the current footprint of the fire.

WEATHER and FIRE BEHAVIOR:
A RED FLAG warning has been issued starting at noon today and will last through Sunday. Temperatures will reach into the mid-70s, with winds out of the southwest ranging from 15-25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph are predicted. Relative humidity may reach into single digits. Any moisture received two days ago is expected to be completely gone by mid-day. Grass fuels will be very receptive to any heat sources remaining in the fire. Fire has the potential to move at 1-3 mph and burn as quickly as 900-1500 acres in an hour.

MAJOR CLOSURES:
No road closures are in place at this time. Please contact the local sheriffs’ websites for the most current roads update.

BURN BANS:
Burn Bans in effect for Hemphill, Roberts, Potter, Moore and Gray Counties. Please use the following link to see additional Texas counties with burn bans: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/TexasBurnBans/

Fire Information Line: (806) 370-2179 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Email: 2024.TexasPanhandle@firenet.gov
Inciweb: Smokehouse Creek: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/txtxs-smokehouse-creek-fire, Windy Deuce: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/txtxs-windy-deuce-fire, Grape Vine Creek: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/txtxs-grape-vine-creek-fire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllHazardsTFS/