New Mexico State Forestry Division Update: Blue 2 and Indios fires

FGGAM received this New Mexico wildfire update yesterday at 12:37pm. We will continue to monitor this situation. We are praying for the safety of all, no winds and good rains. We also have included reports from NM Fire, NM Drought Report and the latest  from AccuWeather.

Some of the information from the news release is already outdated, however much of the information is very important. This situation is very dangerous and always changing.

 

New Mexico Fire Info

AccuWeather

NM Drought Monitor

KOAT TV WILDFIRE UPDATE

I also want to include this Firemen’s prayer: Here

George Ducker

Communications Coordinator

New Mexico State Forestry Division – EMNRD

george.ducker@emnrd.nm.gov

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 the US Forest Service. A Complex Incident Management Team is expected to transition onto the Blue 2 fire beginning Sunday.

Today, wind is expected to be a large factor in Blue 2 fire’s growth, with high winds and gusts predicted in the fire area. Today’s mission is focused on air and ground operations. Red Flag Warning & Wind Advisory are in effect for the Village of Ruidoso for today, May 25, 2024, until 10:00 PM. The Southwest Complex Incident Team is enroute and will transition to the fire on Sunday.

As a proactive precaution, Lincoln County Emergency Services has issued a new Emergency Evacuation for the Villa Madonna Subdivision. Go is also issued for area off Forest Service Road 127A, also known as Upper Eagle Creek, off of Ski Run road and surrounding area along 523 Ski Run road & Eagle Creek Sports Complex. Please evacuate to the Capitan Fairgrounds Shelter. For more information, please contact the Emergency Contact Center: (575) 336-8600.

LOCATIONS IN “SET” include: Sierra Vista & Sun Valley Subdivisions, All Ski Run Road, The Alto Area & The Community of Angus.

LOCATIONS IN “READY” include: Enchanted Loop Community and areas East and North of the community.

Please note this is a fluid situation and boundaries for ready, set, go are changing. Updated map of locations to come as soon as possible. Emergency Management Services are issuing non-opt in alerts to people in the “GO” area. You can hear more information on 1490 AM station.

Recreation, sporting events, and tourism occurring in the area should heed the warnings set by the county.

There is a new closure order issued by the Lincoln National Forest, Smokey Bear District. The restricted area is National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within and around the Smokey Bear District on the Lincoln National Forest. The western boundary of the Restricted Area is located at the junction of National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 400 and NFSR 108 Tanbark, NFSR 108 Tanbark to NFSR 107, NFSR 107 to Big Bonito trail #36 to the junction of Aspen Trail # 35, Aspen Trial #35 to the junction of Crest Trail #25, Crest Trail #25 to the junction of Trail # 78, Trail #78 to the Forest Boundary. The Southern boundary is the Forest Boundary from trail # 78 going east for approximately 4.75 miles, then due north for approximately 1/10 of a mile to road 532, road 532 east to the Forest Service Boundary. The eastern boundary is the Forest Service Boundary due north approximately 9 miles north to NFSR 400. The northern boundary is NFSR 400 west to the junction of NFSR 108 Tanbark Canyon, the junction of Rodamaker Trail # 20 along NFSR 107 to the Big Bonito trail #36. The purpose of this Order is to protect the safety of firefighter personnel and the public as firefighters engage in suppression tactics on the Blue 2 wildfire.

This Order shall be in effect from May 23, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. through 23 August 2024, at 12:01 p.m., unless rescinded. 2. A map identifying the Described Area is linked below.

Lincoln County has declared a state of disaster to ensure resource availability. Lincoln County Fire Service advises citizens to sign up for CodeRed (see link below) even if you are not impacted by this fire, it is an important resource for local residents.

Current Evacuations issued by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are under effect for Villa Madonna Subdivision, Bonito Lake Rd, Forest Service Road 108, and Forest Service Road 107. At this time, the Angus Area, Sierra Vista & Sun Valley subdivisions on the west side of Hwy48 should also be ready for evacuations.

Please keep 911 open and available for emergencies.

The public townhall meeting has been added to our incident Facebook page. And another is scheduled for tonight at 7 PM.

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Start Date / Time: May 17, 2024, approximately 3:45 p.m.

Cause: Lightning

Size: Blue 2 Fire: 3,427 acres

Location: White Mountain Wilderness

Resources: 177 Personnel, more EnRoute

Vegetation/Fuels: Dead and dead/down trees

Containment: 0%

Tactic: Full Suppression

Smoke: Moderate / Wind Influenced Smoke

Go Now: Bonito Lake Road, Forest Service Road 108, Forest Service Road 107, Villa Madonna Subdivision, Forest Service Road 127A, also known as Upper Eagle Creek off of ski run road and surrounding area along 523 Ski Run Road, Eagle Creek Ball Fields,

Be Set: Sierra Vista Subdivision, Sun Valley Subdivision, Angus Communities, Ski Run Road, Alto Area,

Be Ready: East of Enchanted Loop Communities, North towards Nogal

Shelters: Lincoln County Fairgrounds / 101 5th St. Capitan NM 88316

Animal Shelters: Humane Society of Lincoln County / 25962 US Hwy 70 Ruidoso NM 88345

Area Closures: Part of White Mountain Wilderness Area, See link for more information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/nmlnf-blue-2-fire/-closure-update- for-trails-on-white-mountain-wilderness-area-05-22-2024

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Fire Activity: Yesterday, on the northeast side where it spotted into the 2017 Ojitos Fire area on Wednesday, the Sacramento and Black Mesa Interagency Hotshot crews worked to get an anchor point established. The crews used helicopters for water drops to cool the fire’s edge and tied the fireline into natural holding features. The Black Mesa crew conducted some strategic firing operations to create blackline, removing fuels from between the fire’s edge and the firelines. These crews will continue firing operations east to west to create a good line south of the fire.

The western edge of the fire from the handline on the northwest perimeter to where crews conducted firing operations along FR 473 Wednesday is holding. The Santa Fe, Mount Taylor, and Carson IHCs continued prepping along FR 437 to FR 64, including conducting strategic firing operations to a checkline. Two masticators continued making progress on lines west of the fire. The Sandia Helitack crew worked on prepping range infrastructure and USFS kiosks south of the fire.

Highlights: Fire information staff will be posted across the street from Bode’s near the Post Office in Abiquiu on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (May 25-27) from 12-1 p.m. to meet with members of the public and answer questions.

The Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team 4, Incident Commander Aaron Hulburd, will be in-briefed this afternoon to assume command of the fire on Monday, May 27. A CIMT comes with additional resources necessary to plan and manage this fire’s long-term duration to meet the intent of letting fire play its natural role on the landscape.

Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dry weather and strong winds are expected. The high temperature will be around 70 degrees, with minimum humidity around 11-16 percent. Winds will be southwest at 7-16 mph, shifting to west at 18-23 mph in the afternoon with gusts to 40 mph.

Closures: Closure Order 03-10-01-24-02 is in place and includes all National Forest System lands within the boundary of the Coyote Ranger District starting from the Continental Divide trail #298 at Highway 96 going north across Forest Road (FR) 77, through the Chama River Canyon Wilderness to Skull Bridge (Ojitos Trail head) on FR 151. FR 11 northwest to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness boundary and Junction with FR 8; FR 169 (from junction with FR 11) south to FR 473; FR 473 south to FR 64; FR 64 South to the junction of FR 77; and FR 77 east to the Chama River Canyon Wilderness boundary. FR 77 from the Forest boundary and County Road 418 to the junction of FR 64 and FR 77. The Chama River Canyon Wilderness south of Rio Gallina and south of Rio Chama. Visit Inciweb for the full order and map.

Keeping in mind this high potential for wildfire through Memorial Day, the Forestry Division would like to remind everyone to be safe and aware of their surroundings this holiday weekend.

Know before you go: When heading into the great outdoors, be sure to check the weather, and be sure to check and what restrictions are in place wherever you’re choosing to go. A list of New Mexico State Parks fire restrictions can be found here.

Once you’re there: Be smart and be safe. Human-caused fires are the result of making bad decisions. Smoking, parking cars over tall grass, loose tow chains, and working outside with equipment: these are some of the biggest human causes of fire starts in New Mexico. In short — be aware of your surroundings. Understand that the actions you take have consequences. Use good judgement.