Fire

Forward Progress of Thompson Ridge Fire at South Mountain Stopped – N.M. 4 Reopens

by

Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Photo depicts surface fire of which the low intensity removes excess fuels, preserving the crowns of the trees. Monsoon season will yield a new crop of grass. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera

Thompson Ridge FIre Update

Acres: 21,089; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 40 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 21 crews, 49 engines, 31 water tenders, 4 dozers; Total personnel: 1,014 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, Read More

Rock Snot and Whirling Disease also Formidable Foes for Wildland Firefighters

by

‘Rock Snot’ (Didymosphenia geminata), is an invasive (non-native) algae. Courtesy photo

Tres Lagunas Fire Update

  • Engines and water tenders must be decontaminated before leaving the fire

PECOS—Firefighters on the Tres Lagunas Fire are now ramping down their fire suppression efforts and transitioning to “mop up” operations.

But before being released from the fire, all water handling equipment, such as engines and water tenders, must be decontaminated.

“The decontamination process is not standard procedure, but it is becoming more common as we travel from fire to fire,” Read More

Thompson Ridge Fire Update June 9 Evening

by

Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Fire. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com
 
Thompson Ridge Fire Update
June 9, 2013 evening

Acres: 20,700; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 40 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 21 crews, 49 engines, 31 water tenders, 4 dozers; Total personnel: 1,014 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Summary: Today there was a small amount of rainfall near the northeast area of the fire. The elevated humidity contributed Read More

N.M. 4 Road Closure Update

by

VCNP News:

N.M. 4 is closed from New Mexico Highway 126 to New Mexico Highway 501.

There will be no deliveries from USPS, FedEx and UPS during this closure.

Only full time residents of Cochiti Mesa and properties accessed from Forest Road 268 and Forest Road 289 will be able to go to and from their properties along N.M. 4 to Highway 501.  

Only full time residents of Sierra los Pinos and properties accessed from Forest Road 10 will be able to go to and from their properties along N.M. 4 to SR 126. They will not be able to proceed east on N.M. 4. Any residents of these areas should be prepared to display Read More

N.M. 4 Closed at SR 126 to SR 501 Junction

by

Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Fire visible driving west from Pojoaque early Saturday evening. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
Thompson Ridge Fire Update
June 9, 2013

Acres: 20,687; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 40 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 21 crews, 52 engines, 35 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 1,023  and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Summary: Fire intensity increased significantly along Read More

Thompson Ridge Fire Estimated Containment Date is June 10

by

Gov. Susana Martinez

Thompson Ridge Fire Update

The Thompson Ridge Fire started May 31, 2013. It is located on the Valles Caldera National Preserve about two miles northeast of La Cueva.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez will be in attendance at a public meeting scheduled for the Thompson Ridge Fire at 4 p.m. today, Saturday, June 8. The meeting will be at the Fire Station in Sierra los Pinos, south of N.M. 4 on FR 10. The Arizona Central West Zone team will be present to give an update on the fire.

The fire is in steep rugged terrain and is burning mixed conifer and ponderosa pine. The Arizona Central West Read More

Letter to the Editor: Don’t Blame Mother Nature For Fires

by

By Christina E. E. Anderson
Los Alamos

I would like to take issue with Jared McDonald’s statement that once again “we are under attack with Mother Nature’s greatest criminals.” (June 6, 2013 ladailypost.com)

 
It seems to me that Mother Nature isn’t at fault. Rather the power company whose pole caused hot wires to come into contact with trees. This happened west of
Boulder, Colo., where I lived in 2003. Twelve homes were destroyed and acres and acres of forest were burned. Some have yet to recover.
 
Many victims from the wildlife were dislocated and
Read More

Alert: Heavy Police Presence to Limit Public Activity, Travel on N.M. 4 from Jemez Springs to Los Alamos and Highway 126 to Cuba

by

SFNF News Alert:

Public Advisory: We would like to encourage everyone to limit activity and travel on N.M. 4 from Jemez Springs to Los Alamos and Highway 126 to Cuba due to heavy fire traffic in and around the Thompson Ridge Fire. 

Heavy police presence from the Sandoval and New Mexico State Police Departments will be in the area to monitor traffic.

For more information regarding the fire please visit www.inciweb.org or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ThompsonRdgFire. Additional photos and information are available at www.facebook.com/ThompsonRdgFire and www.flickr.com/ThompsonRdgFire Read More

Biologists Rescue Trout Threatened by Tres Lagunas Fire

by

Game and Fish biologists remove cutthroat trout in Macho Creek threatened by the Tres Lagunas Fire. Courtesy photo
 
NMGF News:

 PECOS – Fisheries biologists with the Department of Game and Fish and the Santa Fe National Forest removed 49 Rio Grande cutthroat trout from a small creek threatened by the Tres Lagunas Fire this week, ensuring the pure strain of native fish will survive if the fire threatens its watershed.

A crew of 10 hiked two miles up Macho Creek, about three miles southwest of Terrero, and used electroshocking equipment to stun and net the trout. The 5- to 10-inch fish Read More

Udall and Heinrich: Prevent Fires From Downed Power Lines

by

Downed power line illustration. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following news that recent fires in New Mexico were caused by downed power lines, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are encouraging cooperation between utility companies and federal agencies to keep trees away from power lines and reduce the risk of wildfires.
 
Downed power lines have caused several wildfires, including the Tres Lagunas and Thompson Ridge fires currently burning in northern New Mexico.
 
In letters to the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and the electric
Read More