State

BAER Team Assembled To Assess Fire Damage

June 16, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SFNF News:

Rehabilitation of fire damage will be addressed by the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team.

Specialists of different disciplines will work with the various agencies and pueblos affected by the Thompson Ridge Fire to assess damage and recommend actions to protect the burned area and mitigate hazards.

A BAER team is established for all fires greater than 300 acres. The BAER team leader is typically selected by the Forest Supervisor in late spring, at the start of the fire season. This leader initiates action when the fire is about 60 percent contained. After quickly evaluating Read More

Isolated Thunderstorms Shower Thompson Ridge Fire Overnight – Now 80 Percent Contained – Allowing Some Crews To Return Home

June 16, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Smoldering from the Thompson Ridge Fire remains visible on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 23,903; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 80 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 8 crews, 22 engines, 17 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 602 and Available air support: 3 helicopters.

Summary: Last night interior fuel continued to burn but no new growth or interior runs were observed. Read More

No New Growth On Thompson Ridge Fire Overnight

June 15, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The sun sets Friday looking west from the Summer Concert at Ashley Pond toward the direction of the Thompson Ridge Fire. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 24,032; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 75 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 13 crews, 29 engines, 29 water tenders, 3 dozers; Total personnel: 763 and Available air support: 5 helicopters.

Summary: Last night fire activity was minimal, and there was no new growth on the fire. Read More

Udall Named Chair of Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee

June 15, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Sen. Tom Udall has been named Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Udall was named the new to lead the subcommittee by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., Chair of the full Appropriations Committee. He succeeds Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who passed away June 3, 2013.

“As Chairman I look forward to the responsibility of ensuring taxpayers dollars are spent wisely and the interests of hardworking families in New Mexico are protected,” Udall said. “I am honored to build Read More

Thompson Ridge, Jaroso, Tres Lagunas Fire Updates

June 14, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Storm clouds fill the sky looking west from N.M. 4 toward the Thompson Ridge Fire late Thursday afternoon. The fire is now 75 percent contained. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 24,032; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 75 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 15 crews, 35 engines, 29 water tenders, 5 dozers; Total personnel: 833 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 4 helicopters.

Summary: Fire activity last night was minimal, Read More

Learn to Backpack at Bandelier

June 14, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Bandelier Backcountry. Photo by Sally King/BNM

BANDELIER News:

Join Bandelier staff and the Los Alamos Mountaineers for the second annual Introduction to Backpacking course.

This three part course will be offered Tuesday June 18, Thursday June 27, and Saturday and Sunday July 20 and 21. We encourage anyone who wants to experience Bandelier’s backcountry beyond day hikes to attend. Both beginner backpackers and those with experience are welcome to participate in this exciting event.

Tuesday, June 18: The Los Alamos Mountaineers and Bandelier staff will offer a presentation uncovering

Thompson Ridge Fire 75 Percent Contained

June 14, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Valles Caldera. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire

The Thompson Ridge Fire is now 75 percent contained. The fire started May 31, 2013.

It is burning on the Valles Caldera National Preserve about two miles northeast of La Cueva.

The fire is in steep rugged terrain and is burning mixed conifer and ponderosa pine. The Arizona Central West Zone Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Bea Day, assumed management responsibility for the fire Sunday June 2, 2013.

Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Human
Date of Origin	Friday May 31, 2013 approx. 2 p.m.

Los Alamos County to Receive $83K in PILT Payments for Police, Fire and Schools

June 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today announced counties in New Mexico will receive approximately $34 million through the 2013 Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program.

A full list of the funding by county is included below.

PILT is administered through the Department of the Interior and provides funding for mostly rural counties that have a limited ability to levy taxes due to the amount of federal property in their jurisdiction, including Bureau of Land Management land, national parks and forests and military bases. PILT funding

NM Transportation Commission Meets In Portales

June 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMDOT News:

SANTA FE – The policy making body of the New Mexico Department of Transportation will meet Thursday, June 20 in Portales.

The meeting will be 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at the Portales Memorial Building, 200 East 7^th St.

Items on the agenda include:

Presentation and request for approval of projects to be funded in Fiscal Year 2014 by the Local Government Road Fund Program
Vote on Amendment 8 of the Fiscal Year 2012-2015 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP)
Donation of NMDOT Rest Area Right-Of-Way to the BLM

Time will be allotted for public comment. Read More

Thompson Ridge Fire Behavior Expected To Be Moderate Today

June 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

The Thompson Ridge Fire at the Valles Caldera. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 23,946; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 60 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 16 crews, 42 engines, 33 water tenders, 5 dozers; Total personnel: 885 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Firefighters took advantage of favorable conditions to conduct burnout operations along the containment line on the southwest flank of Read More