Fire

As Firefighters Battle Luna Fire, Senators Udall And Heinrich Request National Guard Wildfire Readiness Assessment

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STATE News:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined a group of 12 senators in a letter to Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Daniel R. Hokanson requesting an assessment of the  National Guard’s current firefighting capabilities to better coordinate resources with state and local efforts.

The senators requested that the National Guard provide an assessment of trained personnel and equipment availability and work to develop coordinated regional planning with governors.

New Mexico’s National Guard and Air National Guard have been critical Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Enters Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Due To Extreme Drought, Very High Fire Danger

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire during extreme drought conditions, historically low fuel moisture levels and very high fire danger.

The Stage 1 restrictions went into effect forest-wide at 6 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

The Carson National Forest and the Mount Taylor, Magdalena, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts on the Cibola National Forest also entered Stage 1 fire restrictions Friday, an indication of the widespread risk of unseasonal wildfires across northern New Mexico. Read More

Small Red Car Crashes Into Light Pole Near Library

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Update: The driver of this vehicle is charged with reckless driving.

Los Alamos police and firefighters arrive on the scene of a one car crash this afternoon in the parking lot of Mesa Public Library next to the skate park. A small red car crashed into a light pole in the middle of the parking lot damaging the front portion of the vehicle. Details are not yet available on injuries, if any, sustained in the mishap or its cause. Courtesy photo Read More

Los Alamos County Enters Level 1 Fire Restrictions

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COUNTY News:

Los Alamos Fire Department’s Fire Marshal Wendy Servey announced today that she is enacting Level 1 Fire Restrictions for Los Alamos County, effective Friday, Oct. 23.

Servey said the decision was made in partnership with LAFD’s Wildland Division today after reviewing the potential threat of wildfire, especially in light of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

“We’ve had a very dry summer and never received the expected moisture we typically see from the monsoons,” Servey said, “Even though it may be unusual to have fire restrictions in place in the Fall, it’s a necessary Read More

Luna Fire Consumes Over 7,400 Acres Near Chacon

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The Luna Fire viewed Tuesday afternoon from the Pajarito Ski Hill parking lot is burning in the Camino Real Ranger District on the Carson National Forest. Source: inciweb.nwcg.gov. Photo by Marc Bailey
Wildfire News:
The Luna Fire began Oct. 17 and has burn some 7,412 acres about 2 miles northeast of Chacon in the Camino Real Ranger District on the Carson National Forest.

Latest Details:

Cause: Unknown

Containment: 0%

Fuels: Mixed conifer and spruce tapering to ponderosa pine at lower elevations.

Current status: Fire suppression efforts continue as the Luna Fire remains active in steep terrain.

Read More

BLM Taos Field Office Plans Burn Near Tres Piedras

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BLM News:

TAOS — Beginning Tuesday Oct. 20, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be conducting a 1,750-acre prescribed burn in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument on Cerro Montoso, 12 miles northeast of Tres Piedras.

This operation is weather dependent and will take approximately 30 days to complete, with the end date expected to be Nov. 30.

Smoke from the burn may be visible to surrounding communities, including U.S. Highways 285 and 64. People who are either susceptible to or affected by COVID-19 may have health conditions that also make them vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure. Read More

SFNF: Smoke Visible From Interior Of Medio Fire

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SFNF:

A green pocket of fuel surrounded by black inside the Medio Fire perimeter is burning, putting up visible smoke but posing no threat to any values at risk.

Local fire resources are monitoring the interior pocket which is about a quarter of a mile from the Medio Fire’s eastern edge.

Fire managers anticipated the possibility of unburned pockets of fuel igniting and generating smoke until winter weather settles into the area.

The 4,010-acre Medio Fire was caused by lightning Aug. 17 and declared fully contained Sept. 14. Based on the amount of fuel in the area that is burning now, including several Read More

National Fire Prevention Week: Test Smoke Alarms

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ARC News:

SANTA FE — National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4-10, and the New Mexico Chapter of the American Red Cross urges residents to test their smoke alarms and practice their escape plan as home fires continue during COVID-19.

Since February, the American Red Cross New Mexico Chapter has responded to more than 187 home fires in the State of New Mexico to assist more than 502 people with urgent needs like emergency lodging, financial assistance, and recovery planning. The nation’s most frequent disaster, home fires are most often caused by cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Read More

SFNF Offices Close For Columbus Day Holiday Monday, Oct. 12; Fire Danger Remains High

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — All Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Regular virtual business hours will resume Tuesday, Oct. 13.

As fall colors reach their peak, SFNF officials anticipate a large number of visitors over the holiday weekend.

If you plan to spend time on the forest, please recreate responsibly and follow state public health orders and Centers for Disease Control guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Although there are no fire restrictions on the SFNF, fire danger is unseasonably high Read More

SFNF May Implement La Presa Prescribed Burn

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are looking at a potential window to implement the previously announced La Presa prescribed burn on Mesa los Indios near Forest Road 473.

If conditions are favorable, crews could treat the 1,200-acre unit as early as the last week of October.

A final decision on whether to proceed with the La Presa prescribed burn will depend on multiple conditions, including the national wildland fire preparedness level and resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality and forecasted weather. Fire managers will also take Read More