Smoke plumes from the Medio Fire viewed around noon today from the Pojoaque/Cuyamungue area. The Medio Fire is 18 percent contained and 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. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More
Fire
Medio Fire Consumes 2,702 Acres At 18 Percent Contained
Medio Fire progression map. Courtesy/ SAIMT
MEDIO FIRE Update:
The Medio Fire has burned 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 Monday has allowed fire managers to increase containment to 18 percent.
With support from the National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, the Silver Read More
SFNF Implements Stage 1 Fire Restrictions Aug. 26
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 consistent drought conditions, historically low fuel moisture levels and severe fire weather conditions.
The Stage 1 restrictions go into effect forest-wide at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.
Stage 1 fire restrictions also will help firefighting resources focus efforts on the 2,500-acre Medio Fire and other wildfire starts on the forest, including the lightning-caused Caja Fire on the Caja del Rio Plateau.
Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, Read More
Haze Persists In Sky Over Jemez From Area Fires
View of the hazy sky over the Jemez caused by area fires and taken this afternoon looking west from the parking lot of Mesa Public Library. Photo by Ed Birnbaum
Read More
Caja Fire Burns 15 Acres On Española Ranger District
FIRE News:
A new fire ignited Sunday on the Caja del Rio Plateau on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).
Smoke from the Caja Fire is likely to be visible from Los Alamos, Santa Fe and along the I-25 corridor and the 599 Bypass, mingling with smoke from the Medio Fire and multiple fires burning in adjacent states.
- Start date: Aug. 23, 2020
- Cause: Presumed to be lightning
- Size: Approximately 15 acres
- Containment: 0%
Fuels and fire behavior: The Caja Fire is burning in pinon-juniper on top of Colorado Peak. Winds helped push the fire to the north face where it is exhibiting Read More
Firefighters Begin Burnout Ops As Medio Fire Hits 2,432 Acres
SFNF News:
Firefighters are planning to begin burnout operations today along the southern, western, and northern edges of the Medio Fire, which has burned 2,432 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.
These planned operations will likely result in increased air traffic, smoke and fire activity in these areas.
This strategy is intended Read More
New Mexico Health, Environment Departments Issue Air Quality Alert For Los Alamos, Upper/Middle Rio Grande Valley
Air Quality Alert:SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health and New Mexico Environment Department announce an air quality alert for Los Alamos, Sandoval, Bernalillo, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties due to smoke from the Medio Fire
The Medio Fire is burning 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.
The fire spanning 2,300 acres and growing is only 5 percent contained. Communities impacted by smoke include Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Española, Bernalillo, the Albuquerque Metro area, Nambe, Pojoaque and Tesuque Pueblos and surrounding communities.
Additional Structure Protection Resources Go To Medio Fire
SFNF News:
The Medio Fire has burned 2,300 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.
The Incident Management Team ordered three additional engines and a Division Supervisor to begin assessing structure protection needs in lower Pacheco Canyon. These firefighters will focus on prepping Forest Road (FR) 102 in anticipation of planned burnout Read More
New Mexico Firefighters Aid California Wildfire Efforts
DHSEM News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) announced Thursday that New Mexico firefighters, including from Los Alamos, are en route to California to help crews battle the recent surge in wildfires.
The New Mexico Task Force departed from Albuquerque Fire and Rescue’s (AFR) Training Academy Thursday morning with five engines and crews, consisting of 17 total firefighting personnel.
Five departments from Los Alamos County, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and the villages of Angel Fire and Corrales are sending resources as Read More
SFNF Issues Closure Order For Medio Fire
SFNF News:
SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) today issued a closure order to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Medio Fire.
The Medio Fire started Aug. 17 on the ridge between the Rio Nambe and Rio en Medio drainages on the Española Ranger District. Updates on fire operations are posted on the SFNF website, www.nmfireinfo.com and Inciweb.
The closure order prohibits members of the public from entering the restricted area, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails, within an area that is roughly defined by the Rio Nambe Trail #160 on the north, Read More