Single Publication

 Acres: 412
 Cause: Downed power lines
 Containment: 77%
 Start Date: April 12, 2022
 Personnel: 109
 Location/Origin: Nogal Canyon, west of Capitan
 Fuels: Ponderosa pine, pinon and juniper, grasses
 Structures burned: 6 primary, 8 outbuildings   

Highlights: This will be the FINAL written update for the Nogal Canyon Fire. The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 (SWAIMT2) will transition the fire to a Type 4 Command structure tomorrow, April 21st at 7:00 am. Once the fire transitions, updates will be made to the Facebook page and InciWeb as notable events occur. The current phone numbers and email address no longer will be monitored. As of Thursday morning, members of the public should call 575-258-6900 and media outlets call 505-681-2837.      

Operations: Resources will continue to patrol and monitor the fire.  Mop up operations are taking place around the fire perimeter and crews are cooling hotspots if located.

After the Fire: A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been ordered to make assessments for the McBride and Nogal Canyon Fires. BAER teams conduct rapid assessments that evaluate post-fire conditions and determine the potential for increased flooding, sediment flows, and rockslides. The team consists of many disciplines including hydrologists, geologists, soil scientists, road engineers, botanists, biologists, and archeologists from both federal and state agencies. BAER teams ultimately produce an assessment that describes post-fire conditions along with recommended emergency stabilization measures and actions. Efforts are focused on the protection of human life and safety, property, and critical cultural and natural resource values. The BAER assessment team will begin work on Friday, April 22nd and anticipates that it will take approximately two weeks to complete their burned area assessment.

Evacuations: All evacuations have been lifted. Only residents will be permitted entry to access their homes. Hunters/Campers will not be allowed in the area until further notice.

Restrictions/Closures: Nogal Canyon remains closed to the public beyond 399 Canyon Rd at the forest boundary for both public and firefighter safety. Please respect the closure. With firefighters and utility companies working within the repopulated area, anyone driving in the area is asked to reduce their speed and turn on headlights for visibility.

The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been lifted as of 8:00 pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Weather: Slightly stronger southwest winds are expected at 20 mph with gusts 35-40 mph. For this combination of critical conditions, a Red Flag Warning is in place from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Fire Information: Public Phone Line 505-356-2636   Media Phone Line 505-445-8278  Phone Lines open 8am-8pm           

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8062/

NM Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NogalCanyonFire2022