Fire Information: (541) 787-4342 (541) 787-4343 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Acres: 9,394 Start date: May 31, 2013 Cause: Human Location: 10 miles north of Jemez, NM Containment: 5 percent Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine Terrain: Steep, rugged Resources: 17 crews, 29 engines, 4 water tenders, 3 dozer Total personnel: 557 Available air support: 3 airtankers, 9 helicopters Summary: Yesterday’s weather was once again the driving force for extreme fire behavior. This erratic behavior continued until 3:00 a.m. this morning on the east side of the fire close to the Valles Caldera Headquarters Historic District. Fire remains active northeast of the headquarters. At the top of Redondo Peak, firefighting efforts were able to protect the cultural site. The west side of the fire remains secure with minimal fire behavior. Firefighters improved fireline along the northwest side of the fire. They conducted burnout operations, removing fuels to widen the fireline. Along the southern end of the fire, firefighters continued to improve line. Today, the fire will remain active as dry, warm and windy conditions will occur in the morning hours. The possibility of scattered thunderstorms east of the fire may reduce fire behavior as humidity increases. This could assist firefighters as they reinforce firelines and contain spot fires. Evacuations: An evacuation order remains in effect for Thompson Ridge, Rancho de la Cueva and Elk Valley. Smoke: Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Fire is evident in several communities. Communities in the region will be impacted by that smoke and that from other fires in the area. Smoke sensitive persons in these areas 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 nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb and https://nmtracking.org/fire. Road and Fire Area Closure: All points of entry to the Valles Caldera National Preserve are closed to public access due to fire activity. The Fenton Lake State Park is also closed to the public. Open and active: Communities in and around the Santa Fe National Forest remain open and accessible including Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument. Camping, hiking and other recreational opportunities are available in the area. For more information regarding the fire please visit inciweb.org.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:56:41 +0000