Fire

Recent Rainstorms Allow Medio Fire Crews To Begin Repairs

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SFNF News:

Intermittent rain over the past few days continues to delay planned burnout operations to secure the western side of the Medio Fire area, now 55 percent contained. Until fuels have dried out, crews are shifting their efforts to suppression repair.

The recent rain has both helped and hindered operations on the Medio Fire, sparked by lightning Aug. 17 on the Rio en Medio Trail in the Española Ranger District. Fire intensity has been reduced across the fire and has given crews an opportunity to begin suppression repair efforts. At the same time, the increased moisture has further delayed Read More

Los Alamos Firefighters Respond To Assist Exhausted Hiker

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Los Alamos firefighters late this afternoon responding to a call from a distressed hiker on the Red Dot Trail in White Rock. First responders at the scene told the Los Alamos Daily Post that the hiker became exhausted and the firefighters located him and were walking him out around 5 p.m. today. They said the hiker was not injured just exhausted and needed some assistance. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos firefighters late this afternoon heading to assist an exhausted hiker on the Red Dot Trail in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A Los Alamos police vehicle Read More

Final Update: Caja Fire Now 100 Percent Contained

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SFNF News:

The Caja Fire is now 100 percent contained, firefighters are monitoring the perimeter to make sure the lines are holding and the edges are cold. As temperatures warmed today, crews also were keeping an eye out for hot spots in the fire’s interior.

Crews will continue to monitor the Caja Fire over the next few days on the Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau in the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).

This will be the final update on the Caja Fire unless conditions change.

Start date: Aug. 23, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Size: 158 acres

Resources: Eight firefighters, Read More

Rains Bring Shift In Strategy Fighting 3,422 Acre Medio Fire

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SFNF News:

The Medio Fire has burned 3,422 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District about 7 miles north of Santa Fe and is now 54 percent contained.

Friday’s rain is limiting the size of burnout operations that were planned along the western flank. In response, crews will take a more direct suppression approach along the slow-moving fire’s edge. Lightning sparked the Medio Fire Aug. 17 and 283 fire personnel are on the scene.

Operations: During Friday’s burnout operations, light white smoke was observed with a few areas that experienced higher intensity burning as the fire Read More

Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 Urges Public To Keep Drones Away From Medio Fire: ‘If You Fly, We Can’t’

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View of a gannet drone pro in flight. Courtesy/commercialdroneprofessional.com

SAIMT News:

The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 urges individuals and organizations that fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), often referred to as “drones”, to stay away from the Medio Fire area to ensure the safety of firefighters and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations.

The Medio Fire is burning approximately 7 miles north of Santa Fe.

Aerial firefighting aircraft, such as airtankers and helicopters, fly at very low altitudes, typically just a couple of hundred feet above Read More

Caja Fire 85 Percent Contained Friday

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SFNF News:

Start date: Aug. 23, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Size: 158 acres

Location: Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau, the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF)

Containment: 85%

Fuels and fire behavior:  Fire behavior Friday was minimal with some creeping and smoldering.

Strategy: As part of the full suppression strategy for the Caja Fire, firefighters used natural and manmade barriers, including the two-track road, to secure its perimeter. Crews today continue to secure the edges and mop up to make sure the containment lines remain secure.  

Resources: Approximately Read More

Scenes Of Smoke And Flames From Medio Fire

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Smoke plumes from individual parts of the Medio Fire visible at 5 p.m. Thursday. The lightening caused blaze had consumed 2,939 acres on the Española Ranger District and 21% contained. Photo by Stephen Shankland

Pockets of flames from the Medio Fire emerge in the darkness at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire sparked by lightning Aug. 17 is burning off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Read More

Caja Fire On Española Ranger District 70 Percent Contained

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SFNF News:

The Caja Fire has consumed 158 acres and is now 70 percent contained.

Lightning sparked the fire Sunday at Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau in the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).

Strategy: The strategy for the Caja Fire is full suppression. Firefighters have taken advantage of natural and manmade barriers, including the two-track road, to secure the Caja Fire’s perimeter. Crews continue to work the edges of the fire to make sure the containment lines remain secure.

Resources: Approximately 30 personnel are on scene, including three engines Read More

Investigation Reveals Lightning Sparked Medio Fire

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Medio Fire progression map. Courtesy/ SAIMT

MEDIO FIRE Update:

After a thorough investigation at the point of origin, fire investigators have determined that the Medio Fire was caused by a lightning strike Monday Aug. 17.

The Medio Fire has now consumed 2,939 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

After multiple days of challenging work Read More

Crews Make Progress Along Southwestern Flank Of Medio Fire

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Medio Fire progression map. Courtesy/ SAIMT

MEDIO FIRE Update:

The Medio Fire has consumed 2,702 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Successful burnout operations and handline construction has allowed fire managers to increase containment to 21 percent. The Santa Fe National Forest has implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions.

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