It looks like the scope of the fire restrictions in Santa Fe NF will be announced later today:
Pacheco Wildfire Update, Santa Fe National Forest – June 23 9 a.m.
Posted on June 22, 2011 by lmlujan
Acres: 5,500
Start date: June 18, 2011 Cause:
Under Investigation
Location: 2 miles north of Santa Fe Ski Basin Containment: 10 percent
Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine Terrain: Steep, rugged
Resources: 18 crews, 14 engines, 8 water tenders
Total personnel: 625
Available air support: 9 helicopters
Summary: Yesterday afternoon the slope and fuels aligned, along with hotter temperatures and lower humidity, creating a 500 acre push and a noticeable column above Rio Capulin. Firefighters maintained and improved the established anchor point and continued fire line construction on the south and west sides of the fire perimeter. The southwest line was mopped up 200 feet inside the fire perimeter to prevent reignition. Considering firefighter safety and the topography, hand crews constructed indirect contingency lines west and south of the fire perimeter. Helicopters completed water drops on the fire and delivered supplies to firefighters. The fire remains within the Pecos Wilderness.
Fire behavior is expected to intensify today as the weather is predicted to be hotter, dryer and unstable. This weather pattern is expected to last through the weekend. Fire progression is anticipated; however, firefighters are prepared for an increase in fire behavior. Hand crews will extend the indirect contingency line on the west and south perimeters. Helicopters will be used for water drops on the fire and to deliver supplies to firefighters as needed.
Cause: The Santa Fe National Forest is requesting that anyone having knowledge of or having been in the vicinity of the Pacheco Fire (north of Aspen Ranch by the Borrego Trail) between June 17 and June 18 please contact the Santa Fe National Forest at (505) 438-5372.
Threats: The Santa Fe watershed, Santa Fe ski area, Nambe Pueblo lands, Tesuque Pueblo lands and Tesuque Peak communications site remained threatened. No evacuations are in effect at this time within Pacheco Canyon. Residents of the area should remain aware of changing conditions as fire spread increases.
Smoke: Smoke will remain a concern in the fire area until the summer rains come. Atmospheric inversions at night may result in smoke being present in Santa Fe, Tesuque and Nambe, particularly in those areas near the foot of the mountains in the mornings. Smoke sensitive persons in the area need to be alert to this possibility and be prepared to take any necessary precautions. For more smoke information and air quality forecasts, please visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s website at:
http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/WildfireSmokeResources.htm.Other websites with useful information concerning smoke are:
http://smoke.airfire.org/sw-outlook, http://smoke.airfire.org/sw-outlook/map, http://smoke.airfire.org/sw-monitoring.Road and Fire Area Closure: New Mexico Route 475, also known as Hyde Park Road, and Artist Road are closed at mile post 9, at the Forest boundary. Forest Service Road 102 to Pacheco Road is also closed. A Fire Area Closure has been enacted. Review it at:
www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/conditions/index.htmlOpen and active: Communities in and around the Santa Fe National Forest remain open and accessible including Tesuque, Nambe, Santa Fe, and Pecos (including the Highway 63 corridor).
Fire Restrictions: The entire Santa Fe National Forest, encompassing 1.6 million acres, is under Stage II fire restrictions due to severe drought conditions and extreme fire danger. The Santa Fe National Forest includes National Forest System lands near Jemez, Cuba, Coyote, Gallina, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Espanola, Pecos, Las Vegas and Mora. Under Stage II fire restrictions, campfires, smoking, explosives, fireworks, welding and driving off road are not allowed. Chainsaw use is not allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Internal and external combustion engines must have properly installed, maintained and effective spark arresters. For a copy of the Stage II fire restriction order, please visit:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/.The Santa Fe National Forest will be implementing Stage III Fire Restrictions across the Forest beginning Friday, June 24th. Stage III Fire Restrictions will restrict access to/use of certain parts of the Forest, yet there will be recreational opportunities available. A detailed list of areas that will be off limits (restricted) and areas that will remain OPEN will be available sometime today. Open areas will remain under Stage II restrictions.
Additional information, maps and photos may be found at:
www.inciweb.orgADVERTISEMENT
