Fire

Thompson Ridge Fire 95 Percent Contained … 3 Percent Sustained High Intensity Burn

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Initial Burn Severity Map for Thompson Ridge Fire. Courtesy/BAER

JEMEZ SPRINGS – Thompson Ridge BAER specialists recently completed their field surveys and are finalizing their analysis and findings.

The hydrologists and soils scientists finished their modeling for predicted post-fire water run-off and erosion levels.

The BAER team identified critical values-at-risk and is finalizing their recommended emergency stabilization actions and treatments for these values that will be included in their BAER assessment report along with their data, analysis, and findings. The BAER report Read More

Council Extends Proclamation on Fireworks Restrictions

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Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes receives a 30-day extension to a fireworks ban proclamation from Councilor Steve Girrens on behalf of the Council at Tuesday’s meeting. The ban relates to members of the public. The County has granted permission to the Kiwanis Club to hold its annual July 4 extravaganza at Overlook Park. Hughes said firefighters will not be pulled for any of the six Los Alamos fire stations for the event. Salaried fire personnel as well as volunteers will stand watch at the event. Photo by Carol A. Clark

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Thompson Ridge Fire Bear Cub Gains Weight

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VCNP News:

Sunday, June 16, a hungry, thirsty and frightened bear cub was searching for the mother he lost during the Thompson Ridge Fire on the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Firefighters working the line came across the cub a day earlier and decided to add him to their monitoring duties. They watched from a distance as he climbed trees and scampered in and out of the tall grass. But when it became obvious a mother-cub reunion would not come in time to save the toddler’s life his buddies on the fire line called for help.

New Mexico Game and Fish Department was summoned to collect the cub and transported Read More

LAFD: Public Safety Highest Priority At Fireworks Display

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Fire Chief Troy Hughes

 

COUNTY News:

 

Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes commented this morning on public safety and the upcoming fireworks display sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.

 

The County contracts with the Kiwanis to provide the fireworks for the popular, family-friendly annual event held at Overlook Park in White Rock each Independence Day. At this point, the fireworks display is scheduled to go on as planned; however, Hughes stressed that many public safety and fire-wise considerations have been taken into account in the early planning stages.

 

“We worked closely Read More

Thompson Ridge Fire Update

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Smoldering Areas of the Thompson Ridge Fire. Courtesy U.S. Forest Service

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 23,937; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed power line; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 90 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 3 crews, 6 engines, 5 water tenders, 1 dozer; Total personnel: 170 and Available air support: 3 helicopters.

Summary: Acreage on the Thompson Ridge Fire increased by 18 acres according to last night’s infra-red flight. The outside fire perimeter has not changed; the growth noted was Read More

Arbitrator Finds in Favor of Los Alamos County in Firefighter Dispute

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COUNTY News:

An arbitrator has determined that Los Alamos County acted within its rights in terminating a firefighter who lost his security clearance at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Edwin Render delivered his opinion recently following a February hearing.

The Los Alamos Firefighters Association, Local 3279 initiated the arbitration under the terms of the association’s collective bargaining agreement with the County after the employee lost his security clearance for failing to comply with a request from LANL staff that he submit a urine sample as part of a random drug screening process. Read More

Los Alamos Fire Experts Scrutinized Equipment for Kiwanis Club’s 4th of July Extravaganza

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As part of an intense safety evaluation process recently conducted in collaboration with experts at the Los Alamos Fire Department and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Kiwanians Rick Reiss and Pat Soran demonstrate the firing system for the fireworks show set for the 4th of July at Overlook Park in White Rock. From left, Fire Chief Troy Hughes, Capt. Kelly Sterna, Reiss, Deputy Chief Glenn Trehern and Soran. Courtesy photo

From left, Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider, Fire Chief Troy Hughes, Fire Capt. Kelly Sterna, Kiwanian Rick Reiss and Deputy Fire Chief Glenn Trehern. Reiss briefs the fire

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Bandelier National Monument Implements Stage III Fire Restriction

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BANDELIER News:

Beginning at 8 a.m. June 24, Stage III Fire Restrictions are in effect for Bandelier National Monument and will remain in effect until further notice.

This restriction is a result of high fire danger, low fuel moistures, and regional fire preparedness level. For Bandelier National Monument, Stage III Fire Restrictions only add a prohibition on camping in the canyon bottom zones in Bandelier’s backcountry.

Other Stage II Restrictions still in effect are: prohibition on the use of campfires or charcoal grills (gas grills may be used), and all outdoor smoking with the exception

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Thompson Ridge Fire: Today Marks Entire Week With No Perimeter Growth

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Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 23,903; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed power line; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 90 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 3 crews, 6 engines, 4 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 174 and Available air support: 3 helicopters.

Summary: Today marks an entire week with no new perimeter growth in the fire. Most of the activity continues to be within the interior of the fire where unburned fuels continue to smolder and burn. Today crews Read More

Santa Fe National Forest and Valles Caldera National Preserve Closed

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Courtesy/SFNF

STATE News:

The entire Santa Fe National Forest will be closed to public entry effective at 8 a.m. Monday, June 24, 2013

The only exception to the closure is the Rio Chama Scenic River corridor which will remain open to the public, with Stage II fire restrictions. The accessible area along the Rio Chama includes 100-feet from both sides of the river starting at the north end of the river at the Coyote and Cuba Ranger District Boundary downstream to the southeastern boundary near Forest Service Road 151.

“The weather forecast is calling for dry, hot and windy conditions in the coming Read More