Pass Fire Daily Update - June 8, 2023

Acres:  46,397                                                                                    

Location:  40 miles west of Winston, NM                                       

Containment: 13%                                                                           

Personnel: 99

Start Date:  May 18, 2023

Cause:  Lightning

Fuels:  Timber, pinon/juniper and grass

The Pass Fire grew only 104 acres yesterday. The entire fire area was in patrol and monitor status. Crews are continuing to patrol the northern perimeter looking for and extinguishing hot spots. A drone flew an infrared mapping flight over the west side of the fire east of Indian Creek. Data collected showed that the line is still holding. The east side of the fire, where firefighters worked to protect several residences is in monitor status.

A handcrew was flown up to the Black Mountain Lookout yesterday by helicopter. The crew removed the fire resistant wrapping used to protect the lookout in the initial days of the fire.

On Thursday crew activity will look much like it did Wednesday. The two main areas firefighters will be watching will be the west side at Indian Creek and the northeast side above Beaver Creek. A warmer and drier weather pattern is developing and fire activity is expected to increase over the next few days. A southwest wind will tend to push the fire back into itself over most of the fire area. Very little heat has been observed across the northern portion of the fire for several days.

The complexity of fighting the Pass Fire is decreasing and fire managers are preparing to transition to a smaller type 3 organization. This change will bring the resources assigned into alignment with current and projected needs to meet the objectives and continue to protect values at risk.

Weather: Southwest winds have reestablished over the fire area bringing decreased humidity and an increase in temperature. Winds will be 10-15 mph over the fire.

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.

Closures:  The Gila National Forest remains open. Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving near the fire area due to the presence of firefighters and equipment.

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

The San Juan National Forest's prescribed fire program began its 2023 season in early May and will be continuing into June. Prescribed fires will only be ignited when all weather, fuels and smoke requirements are met.

The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which historically experienced frequent, low intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime and increases the area on our landscape that has been burned at low and moderate conditions.

DOLORES RANGER DISTRICT:

• The Dolores ranger District is planning to conduct prescribed burns this spring if conditions are right. Burning operations will take place over multiple days when weather and fuel conditions are favorable and may continue throughout the summer and into fall based on conditions. Both hand and aerial ignition methods may be utilized, following the weather, fuel and smoke parameters stated in the prescribed fire plan. Burns planned in the Boggy Draw area may take place in mid-June, if conditions allow. This page will be updated if exact dates for burning are identified.

• Project areas identified for burn implementation are:

  • Haycamp Mesa: 10,658 acres located 10 miles east of Dolores, along the Haycamp Mesa Road, Forest Service Road (NFSR) 556 – Haycamp Mesa Units 1-7, and 9.
  • Boggy Draw: 10,082 acres located 3 to 15 miles northeast of Dolores, along the Dolores-Norwood Road near Little Bean Canyon, Boggy Draw Road NFSR 527, and Cottonwood Canyon Road NFSR 532 – Boggy Draw Units 17, 18, 20, 29-33, 45, 48, 50, 51 and 53.
  • Salter: 5,379 acres located 7 to 15 miles east of Cahone, near Salter Y and Ormiston Point Road NFSR 521 – Salter Units 26-28, 30-33, 39, 41, 43, 44, and 47,

COLUMBINE RANGER DISTRICT VALLECITO-PIEDRA PRESCRIBED FIRE PROJECT:

• The Columbine Ranger District has been conducting a prescribed burn across an area covering 1,300 acres in the Beaver Meadows area. Begun on May 28th and continuing on the 29th and 30th, the final 200 acres were completed on Tuesday, the 30th. This burn is part of the larger Vallecito-Piedra prescribed fire project, located approximately 10 miles northeast of Bayfield. Although active ignitions are complete, residents and travelers should expect to see smoke from time to time as unburned fuel within the project area is consumed. Firefighters will continue to secure and patrol the edges to keep fire within the prescribed boundaries. Some smoke may still settle at night into drainages and low-lying areas near the La Plata/Archuleta County line.

• The prescribed fire operations took place north of Beaver Meadows Road #135, which remains open to the public. Barriers have been removed from Jungle Canyon Road #160, Ute Park Road #133, and Rocky Canyon OHV Trail #717 but burning may still be visible from those roads and trails. Visitors should remain aware of potential hazards including fire-weakened trees and ash pits. See news release for more information: https://tinyurl.com/zhma4vz6

• Earlier in May the Columbine Ranger District completed three prescribed fire units in the Vallecito-Piedra project, covering an area of 1,112 acres.

PAGOSA RANGER DISTRICT:

• The Pagosa Ranger District does not have spring prescribed fire projects planned for implementation due to wet conditions. District fire and fuels managers will reassess fuels conditions for the fall prescribed fire season.

Pass Fire Daily Update - June 7, 2023

Acres:  46,293                                                                                    

Location:  40 miles west of Winston, NM                                       

Containment: 13%                                                                           

Personnel: 125

Start Date:   May 18, 2023

Cause:  Lightning

Fuels:  Timber, pinon/juniper and gras

Much of the Pass Fire has moved into monitoring status. Patrols, lookouts, helicopters, and drones are being used to observe the fire’s progression. One area of concern is the Indian Creek drainage adjacent to the fireline. As the fire progressed to Indian Creek, it moved into the rocks and ran out of fuel but firefighters want to verify that it is holding. A drone was deployed to check that area again yesterday. The flight confirmed no further fire progression. Additional recon flights are scheduled for today to monitor movement and determine the location of hot spots.

Most of the fire movement is on the southern flank in the Gila Wilderness as it continues to back slowly down slope. An area previously fired in Burnt Corral Canyon to reduce available fuels is growing slowly. Precipitation has slowed the fire’s growth but fuels are expected to dry over the next few days and fire activity will increase. The north and east side of the fire is in monitor status and holding well. Today, a crew will remove the fire resistant wrapping from Black Mountain Lookout.

The Gila Las Cruces Incident Management Team will be transitioning to a smaller local team Saturday morning. The complexity of the fire has decreased and many of the resources are being released.  

Containment percentage will continue to fluctuate as the fire grows within the planning area. However, the containment line will continue to hold.

Weather: Dryer air is moving in, with humidity values dropping. Southwest winds will be breezy with a few local gusts in the afternoon. Light to slightly breezy southwest winds will continue through the end of the work week.

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.

Closures:  The Gila National Forest remains open. Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving near the fire area due to the presence of firefighters and equipment.

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

Pass Fire Daily Update June 6, 2023

Acres:  45,043                                                                                   

Location:  40 miles west of Winston, NM                                    

Containment: 15%                                                                           

Personnel: 139

Start Date:  May 18, 2023

Cause:  Lightning

Fuels:  Timber, pinon/juniper and grass

The last two miles of chipping has been completed along Hwy 59. Crews have been chipping fuels that had been cut while preparing for the burnout operations. Fire crews are patrolling and extinguishing hot spots as necessary. A crew hiked into the area and an Infrared flight (IR) was flown along Indian Creek. It was determined that fire is holding on the east side as intended. An afternoon reconnaissance flight found moderate fire behavior in pine stringers leading south toward the Middle Fork Gila River. The wide river bottom and sparse vegetation are expected to be an effective barrier to further fire spread. Containment percentage will continue to fluctuate as the fire spreads southward within the planning area. However, containment line will continue to hold. Today’s focus is to carry on with scouting, assessing, and implementing protection measures to keep fire from impacting private lands and values at risk on the east side of the fire where areas ignited during firing operations are slowly burning together. The Gila Las Cruces Zone Type 3 Incident Command Team is working towards turning over the fire to a type 4 team later this week as the complexity decreases.

Weather: Tuesday, the breezes pick up with clear skies in the morning, clouds will begin building after noon. There will be 40% chance of thunderstorm development and rain later in the day. Things will start drying out and warming up again after Tuesday.

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.

Closures:  The Gila National Forest remains open. Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving near the fire area due to the presence of firefighters and equipment.

Health:  An air quality report specific to the communities surrounding the fire area is posted daily to the Gila National Forest Facebook page and the Inciweb page for the fire.

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

While things are drying out at lower elevations, the higher elevations around the Klamath National Forest are drying out much slower. Fire personnel on the Goosenest Ranger District are taking advantage of a window to continue with prescribed burning today. The Butte Hand Pile Unit is located about 9.5 miles west of Macdoel at Little Shasta Meadows, just north of Martin's Dairy at an elevation of roughly 6500 feet. The primary purpose of the project is to reduce conifer encroachment on aspen stands.

Recent wet weather combined with high fuel moistures from the late-lingering snowpack has resulted in ideal conditions for burning piles at this project area. Up to 100 acres are targeted for burning today as conditions allow.

Pass Fire Daily Update June 5, 2023

Acres: 42,665

Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM

Containment: 18% 

Personnel: 141

Start Date: May 18, 2023

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grass

The last piece of the Road 21 preparation was completed yesterday after firefighters finished clearing brush around structures on private land. The 21 Road is now cleared to Snow Lake essentially widening the contingency fireline. A lot of slash was piled along the 59 Rd. after a similar operation. Crews have been chipping that debris and returning the biomass to the forest. Fire crews are patrolling and extinguishing hot spots along the contained fireline as necessary. Several small firing operations were conducted to better tie in the line and provide a buffer for private properties.

The primary operation of the day was firing along the southern edge of the fire. The goal is to create a continuous “straight” line, squaring up the southern and eastern flanks of the fire. This eliminates large pockets of vegetation that can be prone to make intense runs when weather and slope are in alignment.

Lookouts on Yellow Mountain have been observing fire as it moves in toward the Middle Fork of the Gila River. Some movement was observed yesterday. Resources have moved into the area to better evaluate the potential.

Weather: The next few days will begin sunny, with clouds building towards the afternoon. Overnight, an east push will slowly bring more surface moisture to the region, moving from east to west. The best chances for moisture will be for Tuesday. The higher moisture levels are expected to decrease smoke density.

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.

Closures:  The Gila National Forest remains open. Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving near the fire area due to the presence of firefighters and equipment.

Health: If residents in the surrounding areas have breathing related health problems, please refer to www.airnow.gov for smoke conditions and recommendations for your area.

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

The Sequoia National Forest asks you to please recreate responsibly and safely around water.

With warmer temperatures expected over the coming weeks, increasing the snow melt rate and subsequent water flow in on the Sequoia National Forest, forest officials are reminding people to exercise caution when recreating along the many streams, rivers, or lakes in the forest. Significant snowmelt is occurring with warmer temperatures, and streams are running faster and colder than at this time last year. Swimming in flood impacted stream is inherently dangerous.

Water-based recreation safety tips:

• Watch out for slippery rocks and streambanks that could collapse. Many people who end up in water-related emergencies did not intend to go swimming.
• Do not swim in areas with strong currents or steep drop-offs. The river moves much faster than it looks.
• Keep your children within arm's reach. Tragedies have occurred when kids fall in, and adults go in after them.
• River recreation and alcohol or drugs DO NOT MIX. Stay sober in and around the river.
• Wear sturdy shoes. Sharp objects in the water can cut bare feet.
• Hearing thunder? Feeling raindrops? Get out of the water and leave the river area, especially if you are downstream of areas where fires have burned in the previous years.
• Never recreate in or around water alone. Use the buddy system.

The summer season is busy across the forest with campers, boaters, hikers, and recreation enthusiasts enjoying activities in the Sequoia National Forest.  Forest officials urge the public to make backup plans before visiting because many of the forest’s facilities and roads are not open or are under the seasonal closure order until June 15, 2023.  This is due to record snowfall during the winter months, which has not melted in the higher elevations. 

​

¡LAS AGUAS RÁPIDAS EN MOVIMIENTO son un PELIGRO PARA LA SEGURIDAD!

El deshielo de la Sierra Sur en este invierno fue el mayor en la historia registrada al 296% de lo normal. A medida que se elevan las temperaturas de primavera y verano, el volumen de las vías navegables se ha duplicado en muchas zonas mientras se derrite la nieve.

¡ESTA AGUA ES Rápida, PROFUNDA Y LO SUFICIENTEMENT FRíA PARA CAUSAR HIPOTERMIA!

Las vías navegables no solo son inseguras para pescar, navegar y nadar, sino que las orillas circundantes son peligrosamente inestables a medida que el agua las carcome. Los peligros subterráneos ocultos, como las rocas y las ramas de los árboles, pueden ser mortales.

Manténgase a una distancia segura del agua rápida en movimiento esta primavera y verano.

NO intente ignorar los cierres para acceder a zonas que han sido bloqueadas por su seguridad.

Nunca deje a los niños y mascotas sin supervisión cerca de aguas rápidas. NO permita que jueguen en las corrientes, no solo en la zona de arroyos y ríos, sino tampoco cerca de alcantarillas y desagües pluviales.

1 millón de acres-pies / 326 mil millones de galones

de agua se espera que fluyan desde la Sierra Alta al final de la temporada.

 NUNCA INTENTE CAMINAR, NADAR O CONDUCIR

POR AGUAS RÁPIDAS

Solo 6 PULGADAS de aguas rápidas en movimiento pueden derribarlo

DOS PIES de aguas rápidas harán que su vehículo flote

Solo toma de 4 a 5 MINUTOS en agua helada para que sus manos dejen de funcionar efectivamente y que empiece a experimentar hipotermia

Para más información:

Vea el folleto en PDF adjunto a continuación bajo la informatión relacidonada.

Pass Fire Daily Update June 4, 2023

Acres:  42,703                                                                                    

Location:  40 miles west of Winston, NM                                       

Containment: 13%                                                                            

Personnel: 158

Start Date:  May 18, 2023

Cause:  Lightning

Fuels:  Timber, pinon/juniper and grass

Yesterday, firefighters worked to thin vegetation along the 21 Road west of the fire perimeter. In the event that fire moves to the west, this will improve the ability of firefighters to hold fire at the road. Fireline supervisors are working with property owners in the same area to thin vegetation to make the properties more resilient to fire.

The northern fire perimeter has been declared contained and is in patrol status. Firefighters are searching for, and extinguishing hot spots as they are found. A chipper will be deployed on the 59 Road today and firefighters will begin to chip vegetation that was previously cut.

The southern portion, burning in the Gila Wilderness, is expected to continue to burn southward to the Middle Fork of the Gila River where a change in fuel type is expected to hold the fire.

This naturally ignited fire is burning at low intensity and eliminating surface fuels that can carry fire into stands of timber in times when the landscape is more receptive to intense wildfire. Current fuel moisture and weather are allowing for the reduction of the “ladder” fuels on fire prone landscapes. When timber burns, fires are hotter and more intense, damaging the vegetation, timber, soil and ultimately the wildlife.

Weather: The next few days will begin sunny, with clouds building in the afternoon. Overnight, an easterly will slowly bring more surface moisture to the region.

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.

Closures:  The Gila National Forest remains open. Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution when driving near the fire area due to the presence of firefighters and equipment.

Health: If residents in the surrounding areas health problems that may be exacerbated by smoke, please refer to www.airnow.gov for smoke conditions and recommendations for your area.

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