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 #17
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: A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is arriving today and will begin their assessment for emergency stabilization of soil. The objective of the BAER program is to determine the need for and to prescribe and implement emergency treatments on federal lands to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire or to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources.
Operations: Containment is progressively increasing with firefighters working hard at mopping up the remaining uncontained areas of the fire perimeter. Suppression repair work has started in the surrounding areas of the fire where heavy equipment and fire crews put in contingency lines. Some large fuels may continue to smolder, but perimeter growth is not expected. Fire managers are working together with resource advisors, the BAER team and the City of Ruidoso. The evacuation levels have been reduced but the areas are still being monitored by law enforcement to make sure that only fire personnel and residents are able to be in the area.
Weather: Low relative humidity was experienced again today, coupled with westerly winds. The hot and windy pattern is forecast to stay throughout Wednesday. Northwest winds will be experienced today, which will bring in more moisture. Thursday is predicted to bring higher humidity and thunderstorms around the fire area.
Smoke: Minimal smoke was produced by the fire. Surrounding communities will see good air. Transported smoke from other active fires in upwind states or Mexico, may create some hazy skies on occasion. The interactive smoke map can still be found at fire.airnow.gov/
Closures: In the interest of public safety, camping and other recreation activities in the Bonito Lake Area are still restricted due to ongoing firefighting activities. The Forest closure order will continue to remain in effect for the White Mountain Wilderness Area.
Evacuations: The Village of Capitan, Enchanted Forest, and Alto communities are no longer in the “Ready” status. The Cora Dutton, Ranchman’s Camp, Sun Valley, and Sierra Vista communities are now in a “Ready” status. The Villa Madonna, Bonito Lake, Loma Grande, and Nogal Canyon communities are now in a “Set” status, and all “Go” Evacuation notices have been lifted. 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/
-
Acres : 7,495
Start Date : May 16, 2024
Location : 8 miles North of Ruidoso, White Mountain Wilderness Area
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 489
Fuels : Timber/Grass/Brush
Containment : 69%
Resources : 8 crews | 14 engines | 6 helicopters | 3 bulldozers | 7 Water Tenders
Progression map of Blue 2 fire
Indios Fire
Highlights: The acreage of the Indios Fire remains unchanged from yesterday, and crews successfully reached 66% completion of operational objectives. Decreased winds and lower fire activity resulted in diminished smoke impacts to surrounding communities. Due to the successful placement and reinforcement of control lines along the southwestern perimeter of the fire, the Rio Arriba Sheriff's Office downgraded the Corrales Ranch area from “set” to “ready” status yesterday.
Operations: On the northwest edge of the fire perimeter, firefighters continued to travel back and forth along the control lines to identify any actions needed to prevent fire spread, suppress spot fires, or extinguish hot spots. Crews monitored the fire area to assess fire effects, observe fire behavior, and evaluate progress toward meeting incident objectives. Fire behavior specialists noted that the fire is currently smoldering and creeping with a low flame within the fire perimeter. As fire slowly consumes vegetation in the interior, overall fire activity decreases each day. Firefighters conducted chipping operations along the western portion of fire, then finished work on Forest Road 64. Around the southern edge of the fire near the private property, firefighters mopped up hot spots, secured the handline, and patrolled along Forest Road 77. Today, firefighters will continue chipping cut vegetation into small wood chips and scattering them to lessen the potential for ignition along roads. As primary firelines continue to hold the main fire, crews are strengthening contingency lines to provide secondary reinforcements in the event of further fire growth.
Weather: Today’s temperatures will be similar to yesterday. A low-pressure system from the west is expected to bring high clouds and a slight increase in wind speeds. High temperatures increase Wednesday and Thursday with the hottest temperatures of the year so far. Chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase Thursday through the weekend with the danger of strong gusty outflow winds near any storms.
Smoke: Smoke continues to impact surrounding communities. Smoke monitors have been installed in Coyote, Gallina, Cañones, the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, and the Abiquiu Dam. 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…