Single Publication

Acres: 28,988 acres              

Containment: 28%

Cause: Undetermined

Total Personnel: 515           

Start Date:  May 1, 2022

Location: San Mateo Mountains, Magdalena Ranger District, Socorro County, NM

Fuels: Pine, Pinyon-Juniper and Grass

Highlights:  Under Red Flag conditions yesterday, air support was limited due to high wind speeds. With these challenging conditions fire crossed containment line at the southwest corner of the fire. This area was mainly grass, hand crews with the assistance of dozers worked the area last night and were able to reestablish containment line. The increased acreage in this area was 250 acres. The additional increase in acreage yesterday was within the fire perimeter. A daily operational briefing video explaining details of the Bear Trap Fire operations can be viewed on the Cibola National Forest Facebook page. 

Operations:  In the northern area of the fire today crews will continue to patrol, mop up, and be prepared to assist in suppression repair. In the southwest section firefighters will continue holding operations on the 219 road south toward the 72 and 73 road system and mop up were safe. Firefighters will be in place in the southeast area of the fire to ensure control lines are not compromised.

Weather: Today will be trending warmer and remaining very dry. A dry and warmer northwest flow will reside across the area today. After modest overnight humidity recovery, values will fall back below 30% by late morning across the fire, and into the single digits across lower and mid slopes by mid-afternoon. Early morning winds will remain light and generally driven by terrain flows until northwest winds mix by midday. Although not as strong as Tuesday, these winds combined with warmer temperatures and very low humidity will locally elevate fire weather conditions.      

Closures and Restrictions: The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands (NF & NGs) have now issued an updated fire area, road and trail closure (No. 03-0728) to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Bear Trap Fire. This closure order expands the previous closure area to provide for continued firefighter safety during wildland fire suppression and emergency operations. This order supersedes the previous order No. 03-0726. Based on high fire danger and severe fire weather conditions, the Cibola NF & NGs have also implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on the Magdalena Ranger District (No. 03-0724). Both closure orders and maps are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/cibola/alerts-notices.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should stay away from Bear Trap Fire operations. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at https://www.nifc.gov/drones/.