June 27, 2023 - Evening Update - Operations for the Thomas Mountain Prescribed Burn have concluded successfully, with 2500 acres accomplished. The efforts of the dedicated firefighters working on this operation are commendable. Ignition operations have been completed, and the focus now shifts to mopping up and holding the containment lines.

Collaboration and support from other agencies, such as the Cleveland National Forest, Angeles National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, and the Idyllwild Fire Protection District, have been vital in ensuring the success of this operation conducted by the San Bernardino National Forest.

As the fire continues to consume fuels within the designated area, residents and visitors should expect to see flames and smoke in the interior of the footprint. This is a normal part of the prescribed burn process, and it helps reduce excess vegetation and mitigate potential wildfire risks.

It's important for residents and visitors to remain aware of the ongoing operation and adhere to any safety instructions or guidelines provided by the authorities. Continue to monitor our InciWeb page and social media page for official announcements that can provide the most up-to-date information regarding the prescribed burn and any potential impacts on the surrounding areas.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #thomasmountainprescribedburn

Rico Fire Update - June 27th

Location: ¼ mile NW of Pinos Altos, NM I Size: 328 acres* I Containment: 70% I Personnel: 146

Start Date: June 20, 2023 I Cause: Under investigation I Fuels: Slash, timber and brush

*Size: adjusted from 421 acre to 328 acres due to more accurate mapping

The LAST FIRE UPDATE for the RICO FIRE will be issued tomorrow, June 28th

SILVER CITY, NM, June 27, 2023 – Firefighters using hand-held GPS units were able to walk and map the entire perimeter of the Rico Fire, resulting in a more accurate measurement of the acreage. Containment is at 70%, and suppression repair work continues. The workforce has decreased slightly and is sufficient based on the current workload. Work that is now underway involves repairing hand and dozer lines, trails, staging areas, safety zones, drop points, and possibly roads that were used during the firefighting effort. Visibility of the handline constructed during the fire will be reduced and brush and limbs may be scattered onto firelines so that a more natural appearance is restored. Waterbars are being installed to facilitate drainage, especially on sloped terrain and handline intersections with roads and trails.

Firefighters will continue to work on the fire until they reach 100% containment. To date, no firefighter injuries or illnesses have been reported. The number of personnel and equipment will continue to decrease as the 100% containment goal nears completion. The fire will be monitored and patrolled following the release of the remaining crews.

Firefighters reported two separate wildlife sightings yesterday, one of a bear and later, a mountain lion in the vicinity of the Rico Fire. They appeared to be healthy and unharmed.

Bear Creek Road is not closed: Please reduce speed and proceed with caution as firefighting operations are ongoing. There is still high use of firefighter traffic on Bear Creek Road.

Road Closure Status: There are NO ROAD CLOSURES associated with the Rico Fire.

Residual Smoke: Expected to settle into lower elevations. Smoke sensitive individuals who want to learn more should follow recommendations at NMFireInfo Smoke Management

Aviation Restrictions: Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the Rico Fire was lifted last night.

For more information: visit NMFireInfo or the Inciweb direct link to the Rico Fire

Rico Fire Information:  575-323-1533, 8 am to 8 pm or email Loretta_Benavidez@firenet.gov

Pass Fire Update for June 27,2023

Acres: 56,954                                                                                                     

Start Date: May 18, 2023

Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM                                                                                                  

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 12%                                                                                                   

Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass

Personnel: 119

The Pass Fire grew an additional 1271 acres yesterday where the fire is most active on the southeast side near Trails End Ranch and the East Fork of the Gila River. The fire is gradually progressing towards the east and southeast and fire crews are successfully holding the fire within containment lines.

Today, firefighters are implementing a plan to improve FR704 and assess and prep White Rocks Trail (27) and Iron Trail (771) to be utilized as part of the containment line and prevent the fire from advancing towards private land.  As part of the strategy to ensure the protection of private land and structures, firefighters will carefully evaluate and implement hand ignition operations to herd the fire away from private property. Additional resources have been put in place to accomplish this. As part of the structure protection efforts, firefighters are installing hoses and sprinkler systems around private structures ahead of the fire. The Pass Fire is being monitored by air and ground. A Type 1 and two Type 3 helicopters are available to firefighters to be used for waterdrops if needed on the Pass Fire or any new wildfire starts that may occur. The helicopters are also being utilized for reconnaissance flights and supply support to firefighters.

There are no closures in place on the Gila National Forest. Smoke from the Pass Fire is settling in the lower valleys at night and early morning, and with no cloud cover should lift by mid-morning. Please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/# (Smoke and Air Map) for information on wildfire smoke and air quality.

The overall strategy on the Pass Fire is to allow the low to moderate intensity of the fire to play its natural role on the landscape as firefighters take appropriate actions to keep the fire within the designated planned boundaries while protecting private land, infrastructure, and natural resources. The Gila National Forest is a fire-adapted ecosystem. It is dependent on fire to play a natural role in restoring the landscape to more natural conditions while preventing the occurrence of extreme fires in the future.

Weather: Hot and dry conditions persist with west/southwest winds between 15-20 and afternoon gusts between 25-30 mph expected today, with highs around 85 degrees. Elevated fire danger today.

Aviation Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is still in place over the Pass Fire. All non-fire aircraft are restricted. This includes civilian drones. Unauthorized aircraft in the area will ground firefighting aircraft, hindering firefighting efforts. If you fly, we can’t.

For More Information:

• Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmgnf-pass-fire Inciweb is the official site for fire information. This site is secure and updated daily.
• New Mexico Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/
• Air Quality: https://www.airnow.gov

June 27, 2023 – The San Jacinto District will proceed today with the prescribed burn on Thomas Mountain. The primary objective is to seize the opportunity to conduct ignitions during favorable weather conditions this morning. Firefighters will continue to diligently work on strengthening and securing their containment lines.

If you are traveling on California Highway 74 you may experience brief closures due to aerial operations. These closures are to protect both the firefighters involved in the operations and the public using the highway.

During these operations certain areas will be temporarily closed to the public: Forest Road 6S13, Tool Box Springs Yellow Post Sites, Thomas Mountain Yellow Post Sites, and the Ramona Trail. These closures are implemented for the safety of both the public and firefighters involved in the operations.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the BDF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.


#prescribedburn #prescribedfire #foresthealth #thomasmountainprescribedburn

Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team

Luke McLarty/Steven Griego, Incident Commander

Fire Information: 505-418-1038

2023.comanche@firenet.gov

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Upcoming Actions: Fire activity on the eastern flank of the fire has reduced significantly. Crews patrol the fire, gridding for hotspots and cooling them to further control the fire. Most of the fire activity remains on the western flank where crews are working through rugged and steep terrain to strengthen control lines. Crew members are working with resource advisers to plan for fire line repair work to reduce erosion and rehabilitate areas affected by suppression activity. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect today with chances of dry thunderstorms this afternoon.

While the ultimate footprint is less than initially anticipated, the Comanche Fire has had the desired ecological effects in the areas it has burned, cleaning up the understory and allowing for better forest health.

Smoke: Smoke may be visible from Canjilon, Abiquiu, El Rito and as far as Santa Fe and Taos. It may impact the communities of Abiquiu, El Rito, Medenales, Hernandez and the Española Valley. Temporary smoke monitors have been placed at the El Rito Ranger Station, Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu and the Chevron station in Hernandez. Air quality data is available from the Fire and Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov.

Special Messages: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. For the safety of aerial resources and personnel on the ground, do not fly drones in the fire vicinity. If you fly, we can’t. 

Closure: Temporary partial road closures are in effect on Forest Roads 137 and 20.

Fast Facts

Size:  1,974 acres

Cause: Lightning

Fuels:  Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer
Values at risk: Cultural/historical sites.

Percent Completed: 20%

Resources:  1 hand crews, 2 wildland fire modules, 2 engines, 1 dozer, 2 water tender, 2 REMS teams, total personnel 172

June 26, 2023 - Evening Update - Operations for today have concluded successfully, and approximately 1,707 acres have been accomplished so far. The dedicated firefighters working on the Thomas Mountain Prescribed Burn have demonstrated remarkable patience and resilience as they faced challenging conditions characterized by unfavorable winds. Despite these challenges, they remained committed to their mission and focused on securing their containment lines.

Throughout the day, the firefighters diligently worked to strengthen their lines and create a buffer zone to prevent the fire from spreading further. Their unwavering efforts paid off when they were presented with a small window of opportunity in the late evening.

During this window, the firefighters seized the opportunity to conduct ground ignitions, a crucial strategy in managing the fire. They strategically ignited a total of 15 acres, further containing the fire's spread and minimizing potential risks.

The decision to conduct ground ignitions during this limited timeframe showcases the firefighters' expertise and their commitment to both public and firefighter safety. By taking advantage of this opportunity, they utilized a controlled method to reduce fuel and create a barrier, bolstering the overall containment efforts.

The fire is still burning within the unit and sending up smoke; at times visible from Highway 74. Crews will be monitoring and working throughout the evening. Operations will begin again tomorrow at 9am.
 

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #thomasmountainprescribedburn

It was a transition day on the French Meadows RX Burn. District Fuels and Prescribed Fire Specialist Brian Crawford assumed position of burn boss at 3:00pm today. Due to unfavorable weather and fuel conditions, no further prescribed ignitions are planned this week. Wildland crews will continue to monitor the edge of the fire and work to improve containment lines with a desirable 50-foot width where feasible. Patrols are expected for up to a month or until firefighters are confident that the burn area is cool. Crawford was pleased with the progression of the prescription burn thus far, stating “Fire Behavior was a mix of low intensity burning with minimum impact to the riparian landscape which we foresee improving the aquatic habitats and drainage in the watershed area”.

With the planned areas being out of prescription for ignitions, crews are pivoting to other methods of management. Firefighters will hand thin overgrowth above and below Forest Road 96 utilizing saws and other hand tools. This accomplishes a two-fold objective of prepping areas for the possibility of Fall prescription burns and also clearing understory to increase visibility of the French Meadows Reservoir. Hand-thinning will also reduce hazards by removing dead trees that pose a protentional threat to visitors and increase camp-site availability, as some campgrounds have not opened due to hazard trees remaining after the late snow.

It was a transition day on the French Meadows RX Burn. District Fuels and Prescribed Fire Specialist Brian Crawford assumed position of burn boss at 3:00pm today. Due to unfavorable weather and fuel conditions, no further prescribed ignitions are planned this week. Wildland crews will continue to monitor the edge of the fire and work to improve containment lines with a desirable 50-foot width where feasible. Patrols are expected for up to a month or until firefighters are confident that the burn area is cool. Crawford was pleased with the progression of the prescription burn thus far, stating “Fire Behavior was a mix of low intensity burning with minimum impact to the riparian landscape which we foresee improving the aquatic habitats and drainage in the watershed area”.

With the planned areas being out of prescription for ignitions, crews are pivoting to other methods of management. Firefighters will hand thin overgrowth above and below Forest Road 96 utilizing saws and other hand tools. This accomplishes a two-fold objective of prepping areas for the possibility of Fall prescription burns and also clearing understory to increase visibility of the French Meadows Reservoir. Hand-thinning will also reduce hazards by removing dead trees that pose a protentional threat to visitors and increase camp-site availability, as some campgrounds have not opened due to hazard trees remaining after the late snow.