New Mexico Wildfire Updates - Blue 2, Indios fires
George Ducker
Communications Coordinator
New Mexico State Forestry Division - EMNRD
george.ducker@emnrd.nm.gov
505-699-0601
Wildfire Notification #15
The New Mexico Forestry Division would like to update you on two wildfires that are requiring the attention of federal, state, and local resources in New Mexico. The Blue 2 and Indios fires are burning on public lands and are being managed by Complex Incident Management Teams.
Blue 2 Fire
Highlights: Storms will continue in the surrounding areas, causing outflow winds up to 35 mph on the ridge tops to affect the fire area throughout the day. Firefighters are prepared for the weather to test the containment and remaining open line of the fire perimeter. Successful work on the ground has allowed the progression of increased containment.
Operations: Yesterday, Solider Mountain has been fully contained and firefighters will remain in the area to ensure that the fireline holds. Ground crews focused on mop up efforts, using water and hand tools to be able to work on the uncontained line. Structure protection is ongoing, and pumps are continually tested to ensure that they are fully operational in the event they are needed. Heavy equipment is working on completion of the contingency line towards Buck Mountain. Night shift will continue to patrol around communities and monitor for any new sources of heat. Today, ground crews will stay vigilant in anticipation of forecasted winds where hotspots or spotting could test the fire perimeter. Engines will be near Bonito Lake mopping up and providing structure protection to values at risk. Crews are removing slash from fire lines and heavy equipment is being used to the west of Angus and the Enchanted Forest communities to ensure that the lines hold.
Weather: Due to the thunderstorm formation in the surrounding areas, the fire area will experience winds that will test the fire perimeter with stronger winds coming from different directions than have been experienced during previous days. As the storms exit to the east, they will give way to dry and hot weather for the next several days.
Smoke: As warm and dry conditions are experienced there is potential for more smoke. However, barring any significant fire growth, only periods of light smoke should be seen around Bonito and Capitan. View an interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov/
Closures: The Lincoln National Forest has issued an emergency area closure for the Blue 2 Fire. The closure order (No.03-08-24-0001) and map are available on Inciweb and the Lincoln National Forest website.
Evacuations: Evacuation levels remain unchanged and weather will determine the status of evacuations as managers assess current conditions. For an interactive evacuation map go to tinyurl.com/Blue2Evacs
Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft systems or drones. Find the TFR at tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/
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Acres : 7,457
Start Date : May 16, 2024
Location : 8 miles North of Ruidoso, White Mountain Wilderness Area Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 786
Fuels : Timber/Grass/Brush
Containment : 54%
Resources : 17 crews | 33 engines | 8 helicopters | 6 bulldozers | 10 Water Tenders
Evacuation map of the Blue 2 fire
Indios Fire
Highlights: Crews have successfully reached 50% completion of operational objectives on the Indios Fire. Yesterday, fire activity was generally quiet along the northwest, north, and southeast flanks of the fire. In the southwest portion of the fire area, southern winds contributed to an additional 376 acres of growth which briefly resulted in increased afternoon smoke. Fire managers completed another reconnaissance flight over the fire area yesterday afternoon and observed large areas of unburned fuel in the interior of the fire. Smoke in the surrounding communities to the northeast of the fire area was diminished yesterday.
Operations: Along the southwestern perimeter of the fire, control lines placed around the private property held overnight and throughout the day. Firefighters continued to strengthen these firelines by cutting and piling downed trees and extinguishing or removing any burning material near the control lines. Hoses, sprinklers, and water pumps were also installed around the private property to further strengthen these protections. After these lines were successfully reinforced, helicopters were used to conduct aerial ignitions further down slope from the private property. As afternoon temperatures increased, helicopters also assisted ground crews by dropping water buckets to reduce fire intensity as it spread across the landscape. Wind direction continues to drive the fire as it consumes vegetation inside the control lines, slowly burning through the interior of the fire perimeter. Today, crews will prepare for predicted winds by reinforcing primary and secondary firelines and remaining vigilant in their patrols to ensure fire does not cross established control lines.
Weather: Increased wind speeds and much drier air are expected to move over the fire area today. This will mark the start of several days of very dry conditions and breezy afternoons that could result in burn periods extending into the evening. The area is expected to experience an increased chance of thunderstorms later next week.
Smoke: Smoke continues to impact surrounding communities. Smoke monitors have been installed in Coyote, Gallina, Cañones, and at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautions. A smoke outlook report for the Indios Fire is available online at the links below. View an interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ . Learn more about smoke impacts at https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/fire-smoke-links/ .
Closures: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued an emergency area closure for the Indios Fire. The full closure order (No. 03-12-05-23-22) and map…