Here’s the latest for prescribed fires on the Carson National Forest:

• Crews wrapped up the final acres of ignitions on the 2,365-acre Sotano Prescribed Fire north of El Rito (Rio Arriba County). They’ll begin patrolling and monitoring, which is also occurring on the American Creek Prescribed Fire.
• 106 acres were treated in the La Jara and Apache Prescribed Fire near Angel Fire. Work included completing blackline, which is burning fuels along the control line, at the national forest boundary with the community of Taos Pines.
• Fire managers postponed the Mesa Juan Domingo Prescribed Fire, which was scheduled to begin as early as tomorrow (Oct. 10). They are seeking other opportunities for prescribed fire around the forest.

Highlight

The work on the La Jara and Apache project over the past two days was a critical first step in a complex wildland urban interface area, where the forest boundary meets private property, in one case where structures are just feet from the control line.

Crews focused on blacklining along the prescribed fire unit’s control features aside the boundary. The control line was built over the summe and is an approximately five-foot wide area void of vegetation. Today’s blacklining effort extended a few hundred feet out from that, further reducing fuels like brush and thinned branches. With a blackline completed, crews can treat larger areas with a reduced risk of fire spreading toward the community.

A total of 206 out of 1,860 acres are completed. Fire crews plan to continue ignitions on tomorrow.

Stay Updated 

Residents and visitors are encouraged to keep updated with prescribed fire and other Carson National Forest news by joining the forest news release list, among other options like following on social media and using NMFireInfo.com.

More information about prescribed fires, including smoke-readiness tips, are available online.

BAER Specialists Assess Soil Burn Severity Levels within the Snag Fire perimeter

BAER Hydrologists Tracy Weddle and Connor Gallagher-recently assessed different areas within the Snag Fire perimeter to perform soil burn severity (SBS) surveys to determine whether each area is of a low, moderate, or high classification. 

One area was classified as a low SBS level due to the intact root structure within the upper soil horizon and the tree canopy above the soil was not completely consumed by the Snag Fire.

Another area had a moderate to high SBS level with a high potential for increased watershed response due to a disintegrated soil surface organic matter layer and surface cover in combination with lack of needle cast that usually has the potential to act as protection ground cover mulch. The area’s tree canopy had almost complete consumption by the Snag Fire which is another soil burn severity level indicator.

NOTE: See related photos to this article under the “Photos” Tab on this Boise NF Post-Fire BAER InciWeb page: Idbof Boise Nf Postfire Baer 2024 Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov). Also see “Related Information” PDF article document containing related article photos below.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service: www.weather.gov/boi/.

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Elkhorn Fire Update, Evening October 9, 2024

A new map has been produced for the Elkhorn Fire. This map shows current acreage at 10,313 acres. We acknowledge that this is less than the initial estimate of 22,430 acres. Containment has increased to 60 percent. 

Our new estimate was created utilizing satellite imagery, which was then mapped in GIS. This produced a more accurate representation of actual acreage. We will continue to update and refine the map as more information is provided.

The cause of the Elkhorn Fire is still under investigation. 

BAER Specialists Assess Trail Creek Hot Springs-an Undeveloped Recreation Site within the Snag Fire Perimeter

BAER Hydrologists Tracy Weddle and Connor Gallagher-recently assessed the Trail Creek Hot Springs, an undeveloped recreation site within the Snag Fire burn area for impacts associated with increased post-fire flow potential and sudden increase in stream level rise including floatable woody debris production, and hazard trees for safety by users of the site.

NOTE: See related photos to this article under the “Photos” Tab on this Boise NF Post-Fire BAER InciWeb page: Idbof Boise Nf Postfire Baer 2024 Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov). Also see “Related Information” PDF article document containing related article photos below.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events—be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service: www.weather.gov/boi/.

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A mandatory evacuations for zone LKH-1448-B in the area of Lakehead due to the Shoe fire - Genasys Protect.

Zone 3 has been added

Zone 1: From Cove Creek to Ebeneezer Bar, downriver along the Salmon River Road #030.

Zone 2: On Panther Creek Rd #055, a half mile south of Beaver Creek Rd #057 to the Salmon River Rd #030 confluence.

Zone 3: Panther Creek to Spring Creek to include private land up Spring Creek

ZONE 1 AND 2 ARE IN "GO" STATUS

ZONE 3 IS IN "READY" STATUS

ZONE 3 had been moved to "SET" status

ZONES 1 and 2 remain in "GO" status

Zone 1: From Cove Creek to Ebeneezer Bar, downriver along the Salmon River Road #030.

Zone 2: On Panther Creek Rd #055, a half mile south of Beaver Creek Rd #057 to the Salmon River Rd #030 confluence.

Zone 3: Panther Creek to Spring Creek to include private land up Spring Creek

Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton said Evacuation Warnings have been issued for residents of the 1700 to 2500 blocks of Skalkaho Highway due to the Railroad-Daly Fire. The warnings were issued after consultation with the Darby-Sula Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest. Sheriff Holton said the warnings are given in an abundance of caution with a wind event and weather conditions forecast over the next several days.

Residents in an evacuation warning status should prepare to evacuate, but no evacuation orders have been issued at this time. Residents should locate important paperwork, medications and possessions, and locations to move livestock should evacuations become necessary. People with health problems or mobility issues should consider evacuating during the warning phase.

Information will be posted on the Ravalli County Sheriff's app for smart devices as it becomes available, as well as the Ravalli County Sheriff and Discover the Bitterroot Facebook pages.