6-26-24 Evening Update - Today was a successful day for the crew, who completed 160 acres around the Village of Wilsonia. Firefighters have been diligently working to reduce dead and downed vegetation near Wilsonia, extending the prescribed burn area down to General Highway and Highway 180.

Expect heavy smoke and active fire in the General Highway and Highway 180 areas. Firefighters will be present, so please drive cautiously, use headlights, and follow instructions from firefighters and park rangers for your safety.

For the latest updates on the prescribed burn and its potential impacts on the surrounding areas, please continue to monitor our InciWeb page and social media channels for official announcements.

2024 Park Ridge Prescribed Fire - June 26, 2024

Thu, 06/27/2024 - 00:15

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2024 Park Ridge Prescribed Fire - June 26, 2024

Sequoia & Kings Canyon Firefighter Meissner with Engine 72 working hard on the Park Ridge Prescribed Burn

Southwest Area

Incident Management Team

TEAM 5 – Dave Gesser– INCIDENT COMMANDER

Ground efforts hindered by severe weather conditions

Daily Update, Thursday, June 27, 2024

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214

Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov

Acres:  South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939

Start Date: June 17, 2024

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area; Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM                                                  

Personnel: 900

Containment: South Fork – 69%; Salt – 66%

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper                                             

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 21 crews, 4 helicopters, 42 engines, 9 bulldozers, and 12 water tenders.

Highlights:

Interactive property map updates available for Village of Ruidoso. Property access status updates are available, including properties available for re-entry and those in the No Entry/Exclusion Zones. Use www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for more information. 

Reminder: Celebrate July 4th without fireworks. Fireworks can cause new starts in the area. Please celebrate the holiday without fireworks this year, so firefighters and cooperators can complete their efforts across the South Fork and Salt Fires.

Fire Activity: The South Fork and Salt fires are experiencing limited fire activity, thanks in part to daily scattered storms, and the hard work firefighters are putting in to find and extinguish hot spots. Occasional smoke will be visible as pockets of unburned fuels and could ignite, even as monsoonal weather patterns move into the area.

Crews continue to mop up and begin to repair actions taken by firefighters to prevent the South Fork and Salt fires from growing. Cooperators, and utility providers are working to address service needs for communities. As a reminder, conditions are dynamic and will remain that way through the duration of the incident. Maintain awareness and reduce your speed while traveling through the area.

Weather: Temperatures will remain in the mid-high 80s. Scattered showers and thunderstorms return, bringing along the risk of flash floods and debris flows. 

Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate with the highest impacts during the early morning and late evening hours. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05.

Reentry: No evacuations are in place. However, designated "NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES" remain in place in some areas of the village. Visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire or contact the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Centers for more information.  

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you're stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details.

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.

More information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire

Interlaken Fire was called 100% contained on June 24, 2024. Firefighters will continue to work on the fire until it is fully controlled and out. This will be the last post unless something significant happens. Following US Forest PSICC website at Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands - Home (usda.gov) for updates and closure information, and PSICC Facebook page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/psicc. 

The next step in minimizing wildfire damage to the landscape is to implement longer-term rehabilitation efforts to repair damage caused by the fire. These efforts begin after the fire is out and continue for several years. Rehabilitation focuses on the lands unlikely to recover naturally from wildland fire damage. To address these damaged areas a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been dispatched to the burned area to determine the need for and to prescribe and implement treatments on Federal Land 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.

The Interlaken Fire will welcome the expertise of a BAER team to the area this week. BAER teams are staffed by specially trained professionals: hydrologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, vegetation specialists, archeologists, and others who rapidly evaluate the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization treatments. A BAER assessment usually begins before the wildfire has been fully contained.

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Casey Cheesbrough, Incident Commander 

Location: Three miles northwest of Beulah, CO

Date Reported: June 22, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Size: 787 acres

Containment: 0

Total Personnel: 266

The Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed management of the Oak Ridge Fire at 6:00 a.m. this morning. 

The Oak Ridge fire was detected on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Forest Service resources responded and began scouting locations where firefighters could safely access the fire. Air resources aggressively worked to slow down the fire’s progression until they could get resources on the ground. The number one priority is always and continues to be firefighter and public safety. 

Current Situation

Crews are working to construct both direct (along the fire’s edge) and indirect (away from the fire’s edge) fire line with a primary focus on structure protection. Firefighters went direct on the eastern edge of the fire perimeter to keep the fire from advancing toward the town of Beulah. They began structure protection measures and plan to set up hoselays and sprinkler systems to protect structures at risk. Firefighters are scouting the fire perimeter to determine where they can construct an indirect fire line that ensures firefighter safety while protecting the values at risk.

Fire activity may result in an increase of acres after the inversion lifts this morning. Some thunderstorms are predicted later this afternoon that will bring gusty winds. Air resources will assist firefighters on the grounds as weather permits.

Key values at risk include the local communities and the Middle Creek drainage.

Weather & Smoke Information: 

Moisture will return to southern Colorado today and linger through Thursday. Expect an increase in afternoon showers and thunderstorms with gusty winds in the range of 45-60 mph, and a possibility of small hail and brief heavy rain.

Inversions will cause smoke to settle in the lower elevations. To check the air quality in and around the Oak Ridge Fire go www.colorado.gov/airquality. For resources on how to mitigate the impacts of smoke go to www.airnow.gov/wildfires/.

Closures:

The Middle Creek Road is closed.

Evacuations:

Homes along the Middle Creek Canyon Road are under a mandatory evacuation. Go to www.puebloemergency.info for evacuation information The following are in a pre-evacuation status: Vine Mesa, Cascade Ave., Pine Ave., and Beulah Highlands Rd.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: 

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. If you FLY, we CAN’T. Do not fly or operate your own drones in this area, as it will impede firefighting efforts and ground our aircraft.

OAK RIDGE FIRE INFORMATION

Fire Information Phoneline:  719-315-1536      Time: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Facebook: @OakRidgeFire2024     Email: 2024.oakridge@firenet.gov   

InciWeb: www.inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-oak-ridge-fire

This closure is in effect 6/26/2024 for the Oak Ridge Fire area and will remain in place through July 26, 2024 at 11:59 PM, unless rescinded.

El incendio Pioneer arde en los espacios naturales de Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, en el Distrito de guardabosques de Chelan del Bosque Nacional Okanogan-Wenatchee y en un terreno privado a 31 millas al noroeste de Chelan. Las comunidades de Stehekin, Chelan y Manson se encuentran abiertas y siguen recibiendo visitantes.

El incendio Pioneer es un incendio de extinción completa. Los directores del incendio están utilizando estrategias y tácticas con la mayor probabilidad de éxito, y al mismo tiempo mitigan los riesgos para los trabajadores de primera línea y el público. El terreno extremo impide el ataque directo, especialmente en el borde este del incendio. Se están identificando y estableciendo líneas indirectas que reducirán el riesgo para los trabajadores de primera línea y al mismo tiempo protegen la infraestructura privada y federal y los recursos recreativos y ambientales. 

Cerca de Stehekin, las cuadrillas cubrieron un puente con láminas protectoras. Los bomberos están trabajando hacia el norte hacia Rainbow Falls, abriendo cortafuegos construidos durante incidentes anteriores, conectados a la carretera. También colocan mangueras cerca de las cabinas. 

En el borde norte del incendio cerca de Meadow Creek, las cuadrillas siguen trabajando para proteger las cabinas y los activos recreativos. Están retirando la maleza cerca de las estructuras y manteniendo las bombas y los aspersores. En el extremo sur del incendio cerca de Prince Creek, un equipo de bomberos está protegiendo las estructuras y monitoreando activamente la propagación del fuego. 

Las cuadrillas cerca de Nelson Butte están reabriendo viejos cortafuegos que se conectarán con el lago, cerca de Safety Harbor. También están terminando las mejoras en el cortafuego de Coyote Ridge como contingencia. 

Las cuadrillas y los recursos aéreos del incendio Pioneer respondieron rápidamente a un nuevo y pequeño incendio en Grand Harbor Campground. Lo controlaron el día de ayer y continuarán monitoreándolo y extinguiéndolo hoy. Este año está seco al inicio de la temporada; tenga muchas precauciones para extinguir completamente las fogatas. 

Puede encontrar el pronóstico sobre la calidad del aire en https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Conozca más sobre el humo en smokeready.org. 

CLIMA: Esta tarde está por llegar un fuerte frente frío. Se pueden esperar vientos racheados de hasta 25 mph a lo largo de la orilla del lago y 35 mph en las cimas de las crestas. El frente frío traerá una línea móvil de lluvia y tormentas eléctricas a través de todo el lago, que resultará en lluvias moderadas a fuertes. Las lluvias esperadas no serán suficientes como para extinguir el fuego, pero deberían ralentizar la propagación del fuego y su actividad el día de hoy. 

EVACUACIONES: Los niveles de evacuación no han cambiado desde el 16 de junio. Visite https://t.ly/QoH9w para tener más información.

The Pioneer Fire is burning in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area on the Chelan Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land 31 miles northwest of Chelan. The communities of Stehekin, Chelan, and Manson are open and continue to welcome visitors.

The Pioneer Fire is a full suppression fire. Fire managers are using strategies and tactics with the highest likelihood of success, while mitigating risks to responders and the public. Extreme terrain prevents direct attack especially on the east edge of the fire. Indirect lines are being identified and established that reduce risk to responders while protecting private and federal infrastructure and recreational and environmental resources.

Near Stehekin, crews wrapped a bridge with protective sheeting. Firefighters are working north toward Rainbow Falls opening fire lines constructed in previous incidents, connected to the road. They are also laying hoses near cabins. 

At the north edge of the fire near Meadow Creek, crews continue working to protect cabins and recreation assets. They are removing brush near structures and maintaining pumps and sprinklers. At the south edge of the fire near Prince Creek, a hotshot crew is protecting structures and actively monitoring fire spread.

Crews near Nelson Butte are re-opening old fire lines that will connect to the lake, near Safety Harbor. Crews are also finishing improvements on the Coyote Ridge fire line as a contingency. 

Crews and air resources from the Pioneer Fire quickly responded to a new, small fire at Grand Harbor Campground. They contained it yesterday and will continue to monitor and mop it up today. It is dry early in the season this year; please take extra care to fully extinguish any campfires.

The air quality outlook is at https://bit.ly/PioneerFireSmoke. Learn more about smoke at smokeready.org.

WEATHER: A strong cold front is on track to come through this afternoon. Expect gusty winds up to 25 mph along the lakeshore and 35 mph on ridgetops. The cold front will bring a moving line of showers and thunderstorms across the whole lake, producing moderate to heavy rainfall. The expected rainfall will not be sufficient to extinguish the fire but should slow fire spread and limit fire activity today.

EVACUATIONS: Evacuation levels are unchanged since June 16th. Visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for updates.

6-26-24: Morning Update - Fire crews will continue igniting the Park Ridge prescribed burn today, with 400 out of 560 acres completed.

Heavy smoke is expected around the General Highway and Highway 180 areas. Firefighters will be on site, so please drive cautiously, use headlights, and comply with instructions from firefighters and park rangers for safety. Thank you for your cooperation.

2024 Park Ridge Prescribed Fire - June 25, 2024

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 11:38

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2024 Park Ridge Prescribed Fire - June 25, 2024

Fuels being consumed on the Park Ridge prescribed fire. 

Southwest Area

Incident Management Team

TEAM 5 – Dave Gesser– INCIDENT COMMANDER

Containment increases and suppression repair work begins

Daily Update, Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214

Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov

Acres:  South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939

Start Date: June 17, 2024

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area; Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM                                               

Personnel: 949

Containment: South Fork – 64%; Salt – 55%

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper                                    

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 21 crews, 6 helicopters, 54 engines, 8 bulldozers, and 13 water tenders.

Highlights:

An interactive property map is now available for the Village of Ruidoso. An online map is available to assist residents in identifying the status of property access, including properties available for re-entry and those in the No Entry/Exclusion Zones. See “More Information” below for the map link. 

Residents and visitors are encouraged to celebrate our Nation’s Birthday, July 4th, without fireworks. We are getting close to celebrating our Nation's Birthday, July 4th. The Mescalero Apache Reservation, Lincoln National Forest and municipal areas have areas that have not received significant rainfall, and fireworks could start new fires. Please celebrate without fireworks this year, so firefighters can complete their efforts to secure the perimeter of the South Fork and Salt fires.

Slow down. Motorists are reminded to slow down while traveling on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. There is still active fire, fire personnel, equipment and utility vehicles along US Highway 70. Help keep firefighters and crews safe by slowing down while traveling through the area.

Fire Activity: On Tuesday, as temperatures increased and fuels dried slightly, several smokes were observed by crews on the South Fork and Salt fires. This activity is the result of unburned and smoldering fuels igniting inside the fire area, including dead and downed trees/debris, snags, and stumps. Potential for these fuels to spread outside the current perimeter is minimal. 

A lot of activity is still occurring across the fire area as crews work through structural assessments of buildings impacted by the fire, mop up and begin suppression repair. Cooperators, including utility providers and others are also traveling within the fire area. Area and neighborhood status and conditions are dynamic and will remain that way through the duration of the incident.

Weather: Temperatures will remain in the high 80s. Slow-moving scattered showers and thunderstorms will return in the afternoon, increasing the risk of flash floods and debris flows. 

Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Tuesday with the highest impacts during the early morning and late evening hours. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05.

Reentry: No evacuations are in place. However, designated "NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES" remain in place in some areas of the village. Visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire or contact the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Centers for more information.  

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you're stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details.

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.

More information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5 

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com 

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire

Village of Ruidoso property status map: https://ruidoso.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=e5a6b23bd2934ed192373e9ccbb4aee2