State

Jaroso Fire Update – June 11

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Courtesy/SFNF

Jaroso Fire Update

Time/Date Reported: June 10, 2013 at 1:45 p.m.; Location: Espanola Ranger District within the Pecos Wilderness, approximately six miles southeast of Borrego Mesa; Legal Description: T19N, R11E, Sec 1; Cause: Lightning; Fuels: Fire is burning in mixed conifer, heavy dead and down fuels with pockets of bug-killed trees.

Note: There is a 1,300-acre area of downed timber caused by a wind event six years ago directly south and east of the fire that is of concern because of additional fuel for fire to consume quickly.

Size: 360 acres, according to infrared mapping, Read More

50th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act: New Mexico Women Make 79 Cents For Every Dollar Men Earn

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Women overall and across ethnic lines continue to earn less than men. Courtesy/U.S. Census

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 50th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District is calling for Congressional action to help close the remaining wage gap between men and women.

“When the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, women earned 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. Now, women in New Mexico make 79 cents for every dollar earned by men, a discrepancy which affects not only women, but their families as well. While significant Read More

Thompson Ridge Fire Update – June 11

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Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Fire looking west over Ashley Pond Monday evening. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Thompson Ridge Fire Update

Acres: 21,871; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 50 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 20 crews, 49 engines, 32 water tenders, 5 dozers; Total personnel: 1,003 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Very active fire behavior was observed yesterday within the perimeter and will continue today due Read More

New Mexico’s Mike Sather Appointed to Malcolm Baldrige Judges’ Panel

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QNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Dr. Mike Sather, Director of the VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center in Albuquerque, was appointed for a three year term by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Judges’ Panel for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. 

The appointment was effective March of 2013. The Panel of twelve judges meet three times during the award cycle to discuss the Award process, select Award applications to receive site visits and, ultimately, recommend Award recipients to the Secretary of Commerce.

Dr. Sather recently served on Read More

Lightning Ignites New Fire in Espanola Ranger District

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Jaroso Fire News:

Fire Name: Jaroso Fire
Time/Date Reported: June 10, 1:45 p.m.
Location: Pecos Wilderness, approximately six miles southeast of Borrego Mesa.
Legal Description: T19N, R11E, Sec 1
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Mixed conifer, heavy dead and down fuels
Size: 3 acres
Percent Contained: 0
Resources: 4 reppellers,various district resources, 1 hotshot crew, smokejumpers
Today’s Weather: Hot, 77-82 degrees, above normal temperatures, isolated dry thunderstorms expected today
Structures/threats: No structures in Pecos Wilderness
Evacuations: N/A
Road Closures: N/A
Summary
Read More

New Mexico Republican Politicians Land in Hoosgaw

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Former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, Dr. JR Damon, Albuquerque City Counselor Janet Arnold-Jones and U.S. Rep. Steve Pierce, with New Mexico Republican Party Chair John Billingsly standing in the back, wait to bail out of the politician pokey during Saturday’s Santa Fe Federated Republican Women’s picnic. Photo by P. Orlando Baca

GOP News:

New Mexico Republican Politicians Land in Hoosgaw
By BETTY ELLINGTON-SMITH

Saturday at a Santa Fe Federated Republican Women’s picnic, some prominent politicians were “arrested” on trumped up charges and thrown into a Jail called the “Politician Read More

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

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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

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‘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

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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

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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