http://inciweb.org/forest/3169/Latest articles for incidents in Cibola National ForestFri, 09 Jan 2009 17:39:27 -06:00en-ushttp://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6945/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6945/Estancia, NM - June 30, 2008, 8:00 am... Mop-up operations and fire suppression rehabilitation are the focus on the Big Spring Fire. Crews will be working to suppress hot spots and restore any fireline that was constructed, including a chipping operation to mulch vegetation that was cut during fireline construction. As suppression crews are being sent to other fires, additional personnel are beginning to arrive to conduct rehabilitation of the fire area.There are still portions of the forest that did not receive significant rainfall and the fire danger remains extreme. The public is reminded that the Mountainair Ranger District is in stage III fire restrictions (partial closure) which prohibits entry onto Forest Service land. Due to this closure, Forest Road 55 is closed to the public except from Forest Road 55 to the junction of Forest Road 321 on the north side, and from Forest Road 55 to the Trail Canyon Trailhead on the south side.For information about fire restrictions on the...Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:48:49 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6946/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6946/Estancia, NM - July 1, 2008; 8:00 am... Mop-up operations and fire suppression rehabilitation continues on the Big Spring Fire. Crews will continue to patrol the fire perimeter putting out hot spots and doing erosion control work. Very limited smoke was detected during a reconnaissance flight over the fire area yesterday afternoon. The outstanding work by firefighters led to the 95 percent containment of the fire. A public meeting is planned for today July 1, 2008, at the Torreon Community Center. The meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. following the Trigo Fire Emergency Watershed Protection Program Public Meeting. Agency officials will be providing the public with a fire update, plans for rehabilitation of the fire area and other information. There are still portions of the forest that did not receive significant rainfall and the fire danger remains extreme. The public is reminded that the Mountainair Ranger District is in stage III fire restrictions (partial closure) which prohibits...Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:48:49 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6977/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6977/Estancia, NM - July 2, 2008, 8:00 am... The Big Spring Fire, which was reported on June 24, 2008, has been declared 100% contained. The total acreage of the fire has been decreased to 5,478 due to more accurate mapping. The cause of the fire was determined to be lightning. The recent good work by firefighters on the fire have helped lessen the possibility of the fire escaping the perimeter lines that are in place. This fire has not been declared controlled, which means that areas within the perimeter of the fire may smoke occasionally, but none of the possible smokes are expected to challenge the fire perimeter. Mountainair Ranger District fire personnel will take over the incident at 6:00 p.m. on July 3, 2008, and will continue rehabbing and mopping up as necessary. This will be the last news release sent out about the Big Spring Fire by the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.We thank you all for your support and understanding. Future updates about this fire will be issued by...Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:48:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6950/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6950/Estancia, NM - July 1, 2008; 8:00 am... Mop-up operations and fire suppression rehabilitation continues on the Big Spring Fire. Crews will continue to patrol the fire perimeter putting out hot spots and doing erosion control work. Very limited smoke was detected during a reconnaissance flight over the fire area yesterday afternoon. The outstanding work by firefighters led to the 95 percent containment of the fire. A public meeting is planned for today July 1, 2008, at the Torreon Community Center. The meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. following the Trigo Fire Emergency Watershed Protection Program Public Meeting. Agency officials will be providing the public with a fire update, plans for rehabilitation of the fire area and other information. There are still portions of the forest that did not receive significant rainfall and the fire danger remains extreme. The public is reminded that the Mountainair Ranger District is in stage III fire restrictions (partial closure) which prohibits...Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:29:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6949/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6949/Estancia, NM - June 30, 2008, 8:00 am... Mop-up operations and fire suppression rehabilitation are the focus on the Big Spring Fire. Crews will be working to suppress hot spots and restore any fireline that was constructed, including a chipping operation to mulch vegetation that was cut during fireline construction. As suppression crews are being sent to other fires, additional personnel are beginning to arrive to conduct rehabilitation of the fire area.There are still portions of the forest that did not receive significant rainfall and the fire danger remains extreme. The public is reminded that the Mountainair Ranger District is in stage III fire restrictions (partial closure) which prohibits entry onto Forest Service land. Due to this closure, Forest Road 55 is closed to the public except from Forest Road 55 to the junction of Forest Road 321 on the north side, and from Forest Road 55 to the Trail Canyon Trailhead on the south side.For information about fire restrictions on the...Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:27:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6940/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6940/Estancia, NM - June 29, 2008, 7:00 am... Due to significant progress on fireline construction and minimal fire activity experienced on Friday and Saturday, officials are lifting the evacuation for areas near the Big Spring Fire. As of 8:00 a.m., June 29, 2008, all residents will be allowed to return. Torrance County Sheriff's Department will staff checkpoints to check IDs to ensure that only residents are allowed to return to the area. CNMEC will be working to restore electricity to any areas currently without power. One hundred and fifty staff and children at the Inlow Baptist Youth Camp safely evacuated on June 24th. Approximately 200 residents of Tajique, Sherwood Forest subdivision, and Forest Valley subdivision were evacuated on June 25th. Another 50 residents southwest of mile marker 4 on Highway 337 were evacuated on June 26. Residents returning to the area are urged to use extreme caution while driving on roads and highways near the fire area as there will continue to be...Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6939/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6939/Estancia, NM - June 28, 2008, 6:09pm... Torrance County emergency management officials have confirmed that six residences and ten outbuildings have burned in and around Apache Canyon within the Big Spring Fire. Of the six homes that were destroyed, four were permanent residences, one was a part-time residence, and the residential status of one home is unknown. Those home owners were individually notified by the County this afternoon. If you live in the evacuated areas near the fire and you were not contacted by the County, your structures have not been affected by the fire. Residents can call Torrance County Emergency Management at 505-384-9634 if they are unsure of the status of their property. The evacuations for the areas accessed by and east of Road AO15 have been lifted. Road AO15 is open to travel. Areas west of Road AO15 remain closed. Highway 337 is also open.Cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and rainfall on the fire assisted firefighters with suppression efforts today....Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6938/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6938/Estancia, NM - June 28, 2008, 8:30am: Fire activity within the Big Spring Fire perimeter was minimal Friday thanks to favorable weather conditions and the efforts of ground and aerial resources. Firefighters were successful in building and fortifying more line around the fire, increasing containment from 10 to 35 percent. Torrance County emergency management personnel are working on confirmation of structure loss today. They hope to complete their assessment by 2:00 p.m. "Once homeowners that have had structure loss have been notified, information on the number of structures lost will be publicly released," said John Cordova, Torrance County Emergency Manager.Power has been restored to area residents with the exception of the Sherwood Forest subdivision and the Forest Valley area. Power will remain off in this area until burned power poles can be replaced. Please be aware that power in these areas may be intermittent and there continues to be the possibility of a power shut-off in...Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6937/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6937/Mountainair, NM - June 27, 2008, 9:30am: Firefighters made significant progress on the Big Spring fire on Thursday. Firelines held on the north and northeast sides of the fire and also near Tajique. Despite a significant wind event yesterday evening that fanned the southern end of the fire, crews were able to hold the fire to north of Forest Road 55. This area is on the south end of the forest "loop" road near the Chavez private property. John Cordova, Torrance County Emergency Manager, has confirmed that structures have been lost on the northern end within the Big Spring Fire perimeter. Cordova said "A confirmation of structures will be made as soon as it is safe enough for an assessment team to enter."Officials have been working closely with Central New Mexico Electric COOP and plan on returning power to many areas that are not immediately affected by the Big Spring Fire. This includes many of the evacuated areas such as Tajique and areas north of Tajique. Power is expected to be...Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6936/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6936/Mountainair, NM - June 26, 2008 pm: John Cordova, Torrance County Emergency Manager, has confirmed that structures have been lost within the Big Spring Fire area. Cordova said "A confirmation of structures will be performed as soon as it is safe enough for an assessment team to enter."Electricity has been turned off for up to 500 residents within or close to evacuated areas around the Big Spring Fire. Firefighter and public safety is the main priority in suppressing this fire. For this reason Torrance County Officials along with the Incident Management Team have requested that power be cut to many areas which feed electricity into the area where firefighters are working. Officials will be working closely with Central New Mexico Electric COOP to determine the possibility of restoring power to certain areas without jeopardizing firefighting efforts. Residents are asked not to call 911 about power issues as it could inhibit rescue efforts on other incidents. Road blocks have been setup...Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1370/6935/http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1370/6935/TODAY!!!6/26/08Estancia Community Center2:00pmTorreon Community Center6:30pmThe Southwest Area Incident Management Team along with New Mexico State Forestry, Torrance County EOC, American Red Cross and Torrance County Sheriffs Department will be providing the public and evacuated residence with an update and answering questions.For additional information contact·· Big Spring Fire Information:Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6934/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6934/Mountainair, NM - June 26, 2008. Management of The Big Spring Fire has been transferred to the Hughes Southwest Area Incident Management Team as of 6 pm. This team will be operating from the incident command post set up at the Estancia High School. Please note: the Incident Management Team will be hosting 2 public information meetings today. The first will be at 2 pm at the Estancia Community Center. The second will be held at 6:30 pm at the Torreon Community Center.The Big Spring Fire continues threatening homes around the evacuated areas including Tajique, Inlow Baptist Youth Camp, Sherwood Forest and Forest Valley. Fire officials continued night operations with structure protection being a high priority. Providing for Public and Firefighter safety will continue to be the main priority. With this in mind, today's objectives include securing and extending firelines as well as structural point protection. Today's weather is expected to be very similar to yesterday. The Big...Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6933/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6933/Mountainair, NM - June 25, 2008 5:30 pm. Officials have called for the evacuation of the Village of Tajique. Residents are being sent to the evacuation center located in Estancia at the Estancia Community Center.Evacuations: Inlow Baptist Youth Camp Sherwood Forest Subdivision Village of TajiqueClosures: Forest Road 55 is currently closed to the public on both sides of the loop.For further fire information please contact the Mountainair Ranger District atWed, 25 Jun 2008 17:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6932/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6932/Mountainair, NM - June 25, 2008 4:00pm: The Big Spring Fire is continuing to exhibit extreme fire behavior at this time. Heavy fuels on the ground continue to be a major factor for this fire. Dry weather and the increase in thunderstorm activity also pose a threat. The fire has more than doubled in size this afternoon. The estimated acreage is somewhere around 700 -1000 acres.Sherwood Forest Subdivision has been added to the evacuations of Inlow Baptist Youth Camp and the closure of Forest Service Road 55. Currently there has been no loss of structures. Evacuated Residents are asked to report to the Estancia Community Center where the Red Cross has set up an evacuation center. Torrance County Emergency Management Officials are urging anyone who has breathing problems (asthma, emphysema etc.) to move out of the area as a precaution. Cooler temperatures that we experience at night will cause smoke to settle in the valley. Evacuations: Inlow Baptist Youth Camp Sherwood Forest...Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6931/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6931/Mountainair, NM - June 24, 2008 1:30 am: The Big Spring Fire is experiencing extreme fire behavior at this time. An evacuation of Sherwood Forest Subdivision as well as surrounding neighborhoods has been issued. All residents are urged to evacuate and report to the Red Cross Center located in the Estancia Community Center. The fire has more than doubled in size over the last 2 hours. At this time there is no confirmed acreage. Evacuations: Inlow Baptist Youth Camp Sherwood Forest SubdivisionClosures: Forest Road 55 is currently closed to the public on both sides of the loop.For further fire information please contact the Mountainair Ranger District atWed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6930/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6930/Mountainair, NM - June 24, 2008 9 am: The Big Spring Fire was reported by the Capilla Peak Lookout on June 24th. This fire is approximately 300 acres and approximately 5 miles west of the community of Tajique. The Big Spring fire is a lightning fire which has had little influence by wind, but has been influenced extremely by heavy fuel loading in the area. A Type 3 Incident Management team is currently managing the fire with Hughes Type 1 Southwest Incident Management Team assuming command later today. The Big Spring Fire is currently threatening Inlow Baptist Youth Camp in the Northern end of the Manzano Mountains. The fire is approximately ¾ miles from the camp with spot fires as close as ½ a mile. Point protection of Inlow will be a priority today, as well as establishing good fireline around the perimeter of the fire. The fire remained very active overnight and continues to grow in all directions. Air tankers as well as helicopters will be working today to support ground troops...Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6929/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6929/Mountainair, NM - June 24, 2008 8 pm: The Big Spring Fire was reported by the Capilla Peak Lookout at approximately 8am this morning. Crews responded to the area when at approximately 12pm the fire gained in strength. By 4 pm the Big Spring Fire had forced the evacuation of the Inlow Baptist Youth Camp as well as residents of FR 55 on the North side of the loop road. This fire is approximately 110 acres and continues to burn very actively in extremely heavy fuels on Forest Service land. A type 3 Incident Management team is currently working the fire with a Type 1 Incident Management Team transitioning tomorrow. Forest Road 55 is currently closed to the public on both sides of the loop.For further fire information please contact the Mountainair Ranger District atWed, 25 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6928/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1370/6928/Mountainair, NM - June 24, 2008: The Mountainair Ranger District had several fires spark up this morning following a lightning storm that passed through the area last night. All fires are less than ½ acre. Fourth of July Fire: The first fire, the Fourth of July Fire, is burning approximately 2 miles north of Forest Road 55 and about ½ mile southeast of the Isleta Indian Reservation. There are currently 8 fire personnel on scene of this fire. Air attack assisted in the initial size-up of the fire then guided firefighters into the fire. One Single Engine Air Tanker dropped approximately 800 gallons of retardant on the fire to slow its progress as crews were in route to the fire. Crews are currently working on lining the perimeter of the fire.Big Springs Fire: The second smoke report also came in this morning for the Big Spring area of the Manzano Mountains. One engine crew is currently gridding this area, but smoke has not been visible on this fire since early this morning. Crews will...Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1211/6836/http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1211/6836/The Mountainair Ranger District continues to be under Stage II Fire Restrictions. This means no campfires or charcoal grills are allowed anywhere on the Forest. Smoking must also remain within enclosed vehicles. The recent rains have delayed partial forest closure, but the Cibola National Forest is monitoring conditions very closely to determine if and when conditions will meet the criteria required for forest closure under the Cibola National Forest Plan. Closure could happen as soon as this upcoming Friday, May 31, 2008 if all closure criteria are met.Tue, 27 May 2008 15:54:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1211/6824/http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1211/6824/Significant Rain Event for Manzano Mountain Area possible late Tuesday evening and Wednesday, May 14, 2008.Communities and homes downstream from the Trigo wildfire will be especially susceptible to flooding from this rain event. This includes the area found between the communities of Manzano and Torreon. Drainages of concern include New, Cuervo, Jaral and Torreon canyons. Please visit the following web site for the latest information about the upcoming rain event:Tue, 13 May 2008 12:30:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6823/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6823/On Monday the Trigo Fire was again tested with record low humidity and strong winds with gusts in excess of 40 mph. Late in the afternoon a small patch of unburned fuel well within the fire perimeter actively burned. This caused calls to the Information Center regarding fire activity. Immediate contact from Operations people in the field confirmed this was not a threat to the containment line. This is going to be a common occurrence until the fire is completely controlled (cold and dead).Management of the fire is being transferred to a Type 3 team at 6 a.m. tomorrow.For information regarding the Trigo Fire after 8 p.m. tonight call Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestTue, 13 May 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6822/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6822/Trigo Fire was again tested with record low humidity and strong winds with gusts in excess of 40 mph. Late in the afternoon a small patch of unburned fuel well within the fire perimeter actively burned. This caused some calls to the Information Center regarding fire activity. Immediate contact from Operations people in the field confirmed this was not a threat to the containment line. This is going to be a common occurrence until the fire is completely controlled (cold and dead).Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestMon, 12 May 2008 20:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6819/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6819/The Trigo Fire is now 100% contained. Containment signifies that a control line has been completed around the fire and any associated spot fires. These lines are reasonably expected to stop the fire's spread.While the fire has been contained, it probably won't be controlled for some time to come. Controlled is basically out and cold.Today's predicted Red Flag Warning with low humidity and the expected wind event of gusts up to 55 mph means that any new fire started today in Central New Mexico is going to be extremely difficult to fight. The firefighter resources on the Trigo Fire are prepared to fight any new starts within the adjacent area that has been designated as initial attack responsibility.Infrared flights continue over the fire on a daily basis. Only a few isolated heat sources remain in the southwestern portion of the fire. Crews worked on one of these sources in the southwest area and used the helicopters to drop several buckets of water. No heat sources were...Mon, 12 May 2008 09:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6818/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6818/Incident aircraft and personnel facilitated the emergency medical evacuation of a Manzano civilian experiencing medical problems. Only a few isolated heat sources remain in the southwestern portion of the fire. Crews worked on one of these sources in the Southwest area and used the helicopter to drop several buckets of water. No heat sources were picked up in the Northern 2/3 of the fire.Patrol and mop-up continue.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestSun, 11 May 2008 20:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1211/6817/http://inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/1211/6817/Trigo Fire: Public Meeting, Response & Recovery Update.A public meeting for all communities affected by the Trigo Fire will be held at the Torreon Community Center at 6 p.m. on May 10, 2008. Community members will hear the latest information from local agencies including: Southwest Area Incident Management Team, Cibola National Forest, NM State Forestry Division, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water District, Torrance County Sheriff's Office, Torreon Fire Department, and American Red Cross.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestSat, 10 May 2008 23:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6815/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6815/Continual Test Of Containment Lines By High WindsContainment lines have been tested over the past couple of days and continue to hold well.Containment means firefighters have completed a line around the fire by constructing line and using existing natural barriers to stop the fire's spread. Interior islands of unburned vegetation may exist and may produce torching and hot spots. As a result, the fire is not considered controlled.A fire is only considered controlled when burning hot spots have cooled, and are not likely to jeopardize the lines. These barriers are expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions.Tomorrow fire fighters focus their efforts on improving the lines, patrolling, mopping up and continuing to conduct rehabilitation work on dozer lines along the eastern edge of the fire boundary.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestFri, 09 May 2008 11:15:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6814/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6814/Currently at noon wind gusts were at 20 mph. Relative humidity is 20% and is expected to fall this afternoon and early evening.Highest gust this morning was 40 mph recorded between 8 and 9 amWe continue under a red flag warning conditionsWhitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestThu, 08 May 2008 14:44:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6813/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6813/Later this afternoon containment lines will again be tested as high winds out of the North and Northwest are forecasted.A Red Flag warning has been issued for the peak burning period (1-6pm). Atmospheric instability and gusty winds will be present for the next few days. Crews have been working hard to construct 7 miles of hand lines and 23 miles of dozer containment lines in the last few days. They will continue to improve and patrol those fire lines. Also firefighters are transitioning into heavy mop-up operation.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestThu, 08 May 2008 08:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6811/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6811/High Winds Hinder WorkWinds were both a help and a hindrance today. Aircraft were grounded because of high wind conditions. "The wind and heat of the day tested our lines but they held up" said Buck Wickham, Operations Section Chief. He also said that rehab was continuing along the eastern edge of the fire.Although sufficient forces will continue to work the fire some crews will be released as other incidents start requesting resources. Today, in an unusual turn of events, the firefighters stationed at the Apple Valley Helibase were able to help with a medical emergency unrelated to the fire that occurred at the Apple Valley Camp. There was a 911 call to Torrance County Dispatch concerning a resident. An Emergency Medical Technician assigned to the fire and staged at the helibase responded and was able to render immediate assistance.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's Southwest Area.Wed, 07 May 2008 22:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6810/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6810/Fire suppression forces on large fires such as the Trigo utilize layers of weather information. In addition to other sources of information, the Incident Meteorologist uses data from four Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) positioned around the fire. Weather on the Trigo Fire is approaching Red Flag conditions. The wind is gusting to thirty-eight miles per hour. Depending on elevation, temperatures range from sixty to seventy degrees and relative humidity is in the mid to upper teens.Capilla Peak, the highest point of the fire, has an elevation of 9,375 feet. The lowest point of the fire is about 3,000 feet lower.Red Flag conditions are defined by a 75% probability of sustained winds in excess of twenty miles per hour or gusts over thirty-five miles per hour with relative humidity less than fifteen percent, lasting for more than three hours. A Fire Weather Warning indicates a 50% probability of the same conditions. The Trigo Fire is expecting a Fire Weather Watch for...Wed, 07 May 2008 18:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6807/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6807/··FIRE INFORMATION CORRECTION··The contact number for the Claunch-Pinto SWCD was incorrect.The correct number to call for assistance is (505) 847-2243. We apologize for the mistake and any inconvenience.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestWed, 07 May 2008 12:41:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6806/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6806/Yesterday, residents of Sherwood Forest were allowed to return to their community at approximately 12 noon. This completes the return for all residents back to their respective communities who were evacuated on April 30, 2008. Today, a fire weather watch is issued which means gusty winds will be present for the majority of the day. This will test the southeast containment lines. Smoke from hot spots and blackened whirlwinds filled with cold ash will be visible within the fire perimeter, this may cause some concern for the returning residents. Hand crews will continue heavy mop up and patrol the firelines.Use extra caution while driving on roads due to heavy traffic from returning residents and fire personnel.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestWed, 07 May 2008 08:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6805/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6805/As of 12:00 noon today, May 6, the evacuation of the Sherwood Forest subdivision has been lifted by Torrance County Civil Authorities.Residents can now enter the subdivision. Most of the 59 homes lost in the fire were in Sherwood Forest. Property owners affected by the fire may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program administered by the US Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This program is administered through the Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District. The EWP program assists with erosion control and flood prevention projects after disasters. The District Office of the NRCS in Mountainair can be reached at 505 847 2941. The Claunch-Pinto SWCD number is 505 847 2243. For information about other sources of assistance or opportunities to provide assistance contact the Torrance County Office of Emergency Management. They can be reached at 505 384 9634.Whitney's Team web address see under...Wed, 07 May 2008 07:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6804/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6804/Fire lines were tested this afternoon by Red Flag conditions with winds gusting to thirty-three miles per hour. All lines held as expected. Turbulent air grounded aircraft resources and lifted large volumes of ash into the sky, which often looked like smoke.Mop-up continues 400 to 500 feet in from the fire line. Dozer line rehabilitation began on the cooler part of the fire.Tue, 06 May 2008 19:30:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6803/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6803/Telecommunications equipment on Capilla Peak was impacted by the fire on 4-30. Although some customers experienced immediate disruption when the equipment was damaged, most customers did not begin to experience service losses until later as backup generators ran out of fuel. As of Monday (5-5-08) service providers were able to refuel generators, inspect and assess damage, and begin repairs and restoration of services. Services disrupted include a variety of cellular telephone customers, paging (digital) services, some governmental communications services and a variety of Public Service communications providers. Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestTue, 06 May 2008 15:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6802/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6802/The evacuation of the Sherwood Forest subdivision has been lifted by Torrance County Civil Authorities. Residents of Sherwood Forest can now enter the subdivision.Returning residents should be alert for hazards such as concealed pockets of burning embers, burned trees that could fall and downed electricTue, 06 May 2008 14:29:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6801/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6801/Yesterday, fire crews reinforced the northeast containment line. Firing activities to reduce unburnt vegetation were successful. Visible smoke columns in the area caused some concern for the returning residents. It is anticipated that residents of the Sherwood Forest Community will be allowed to return soon. Evacuees of Tajique, Torreon, and Ten Pines returned on Sunday. With that in mind, everyone is reminded to use caution when driving in the area. Firefighters are still engaged and firefighting apparatus is still on the roads.Hand crews will continue heavy mop up. Helicopters will continue to assist to cool down hotspots. Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site Jeff Whitney's SouthwestTue, 06 May 2008 10:30:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6800/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6800/Fire weather today has potential for complicated fire behavior. The forecast calls for a Red Flag Warning in the afternoon due to unstable air, low relative humidity and gusty dry winds.Rehabilitation of the fire line in Divisions K and T, two of the nine divisions, will beginTue, 06 May 2008 09:30:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6799/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6799/Firefighters working on the Trigo Fire east of Belen, NM, continued to strengthen fire line and burn out remaining pockets of fuel. Small burnouts and hand line work by skilled crews are paying off. After a through reconnaissance flight of the area, fire managers are guardedly optimistic that the hard work done by hundreds of firefighters is showing results. The south and southwest perimeters of the fire are cold and some rehabilitation may begin as early as tomorrow. Even as the firefighting efforts continue on portions of the fire, rehabilitation planning is underway.Fire lines are constructed to remove vegetation and ground litter, such as pine needles, starving the fire of fuel. After the fire threat is past the bare ground needs to be rehabilitated to prevent erosion from storm water runoff. This entails seeding, raking soil and litter back over the seed so bare ground is covered. In steep terrain, "water bars" small humps, which slow the speed of and redirect water away from the...Mon, 05 May 2008 22:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6797/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6797/Yesterday, crews successfully reinforced the northeast containment line using firing activities. For the next few days, residents will continue to see increased smoke at times in the area as firing of unburned vegetation near the containment line continues. This is done to widen and reinforce the containment line. Several crews work together when conducting firing activities. Helicopters are available when needed to assist these crews.Potential for isolated shower or thunderstorm activity could produce gusty outflow winds near the fire area.Returning residents are encouraged to use caution when driving in the area due to firefighters and firefighting apparatus.Torrance County Emergency Information number: 384-9634.Whitney's Team web address see under Cooperators - Team Web Site - Jeff Whitney's Southwest Area Type 1Mon, 05 May 2008 08:00:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6796/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6796/ Tel: 505-847-0977 505-847-0989 Fax: 505-847-0992 www.inciweb.orgMedia should come to the ICP at Broadway & Limit 2200 May 3, 2008Efforts Continue on Trigo FireWinds diminished but still continued to be a factor in firefighting efforts on the Trigo Fire east of Belen, NM. "Winds today were a far cry from what happened over the past few days." said Jeff Whitney, Incident Commander of the Southwest Area Incident Management Team. Whitney went on to say that good progress is being made on the fire, currently estimated at 13,680 acres with 45% contained. The fire management team continues working closely with all the tribal, federal, state, county and local agencies to facilitate the return of evacuated residences as quickly as it can happen in a safe manner. This continues to be a top priority during this faze of the fire incident.The public can expect to still see smoke from the interior of the fire over the next several days. Along with continued work on patrolling and strengthening...Sat, 03 May 2008 22:19:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6793/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6793/May 3, 2008 8 a.m. Winds will be favorable for firefighting efforts, however the terrain will continue to dominate the direction of the wind. The north and west side of the fire located in extremely rough terrain with heavy bug killed fuels is still a concern and will continue to be a priority location for firefighters. Additionally firefighters and heavy equipment will continue to focus on areas with urban interface implications. Air operations will continue today as winds allow: air tankers are available, 2 air attack platforms, 2 Type 1 Helicopters, 2 Type 3 Helicopters, and 1 Type 2 Helicopter.Torrance County Sheriff's Department will continue to assess damage today. Currently it appears less than one hundred homes were damaged. As there is active fire still in the area the threat for damage still remains. There is a strong law enforcement presence and no looting is occurring.Torrance County Emergency Management will be holding daily updates at 1 p.m. in the Estancia Community...Sat, 03 May 2008 12:22:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6790/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6790/Fire Name: Trigo FireEstimated Acreage: 13,000Containment: 30%Date Started: April 15, 2008 Cause: Under InvestigationJurisdictional Agencies: USFS NMSF Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Isleta PuebloRestrictions and closures: Cibola National Forest in Stage 2 restrictions. New Canyon Road remains closed at the Forest boundary. Red Canyon Campground remains closed.Values at risk: Communities of Torreon and Tajique, Sherwood Forest Subdivision, Hyde Place and 2 campgrounds Location: Manzano MountainsPersonnel: Approx. 234Resources: 2 Hotshot Crews, 4 Type 2 Hand Crews, 1 Type 2 Helicopter, 1Type 3 Helicopter, 4 Type 6 Engines, 1 Lead Plane and 2 Air Tankers, 1 DozerMountainair, NM - May 1, 2008, 10 pm. High winds of 30-40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph pushed the fire North then East.The Torrance County Emergency Management Team held a meeting at the Estancia Community Center. The Estancia Community Center is where the Red Cross has set up for evacuees. The Emergency Management Team was...Thu, 01 May 2008 22:45:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6777/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6777/Fire Name: Trigo FireEstimated Acreage: 4832 AcresContainment: 95%Date Started: April 15, 2008 Cause: Under InvestigationJurisdictional Agencies: USFSRestrictions and closures: Cibola National Forest in Stage 2 restrictions. New Canyon Road remains closed at the Forest boundary. Red Canyon Campground remains closed.Threatened resources: Capilla Peak Lookout and Electronic Sites Location: Manzano Mountains, South of Capilla PeakPersonnel: Approx. 185Resources: 2 Hotshot Crews, 4 Type 2 Hand Crews, 2 Helicopters, 4 Type 6 Engines Mountainair, NM - April 29, 2008, 9 pm: The Trigo Fire on the Mountainair Ranger District continues to smolder and burn after its start two weeks ago. The smoke that can be seen by the surrounding communities is not cause for alarm. It is the after effects of the burnouts that have taken place over the last several days. Control line, and large areas of black that cannot burn again surround this area of activity. All of the firefighting resources on the...Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:14:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6764/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6764/Date April 27, 2008 9:00 PM For Immediate Release Trigo Fire Cooling DownFirefighters are moving steadily toward full containment of the Trigo fire. Crews are expected to finish mop up in the New Canyon campground area tomorrow. One smoke persists on the west side, which will be worked by hand crews. Helicopters dropped about 8,000 gallons of water on burning interior fuels, and will be available again tomorrow for additional drops where needed. The burnout operation above Bartolo Canyon may continue tomorrow to reinforce the containment line.The BAER (burned area emergency rehabilitation) team will be on the incident tomorrow to begin assessment of damage to natural resources, prior to making recommendations for restoration.The local chapter of the American Red Cross has provided a toll free number (1-800-560-2302) for those needing assistance whose homes were lost or damaged by the Trigo fire. Fire Facts: Containment: 83% Acres: 4,910 Fire Personnel: 422 Hot Shot Crews: 5 Type II...Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:06:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6763/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6763/ Date April 28, 2008 8:00 PM For Immediate Release Trigo Fire Management Changes The New Mexico Type 2 Incident Management Team will officially hand over management of the Trigo Fire to a Type 3 management team at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. A 95 percent containment of the fire, few hot spots and reinforced fire lines prompted the change in management. More accurate mapping of the fire resulted in a reduction of burned area. The final tally is 4,832 acres. Firefighters have been battling the stubborn fire since April 15. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. However, no lightning strikes were reported in the area of fire origin, prior to ignition.Since the onset, firefighters have logged more than 5,000 miles on foot, in difficult terrain, performing suppression tactics. Kindergarten students from the Susie Rayos Marmon Elementary School in Albuquerque sent more than fifty handcrafted cards to the firefighters calling them "super heroes" and praising them for "saving our...Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:59:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6761/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6761/Date April 26, 2008 8:00 AM For Immediate ReleaseFirefighters Getting the Upper HandFirefighters seem to be getting the upper hand on the Trigo Fire. Crews have been battling steep, rough terrain, and strong, shifting winds for the past ten days. Northwest winds today are expected to assist firefighters. As fire behavior winds down, the focus will shift to rehabilitation efforts. A public meeting will be held at the Torreon Community Center at 6:00 p.m. this evening. "After the Wildfire - What Next " will be the topic.Nine weekend or summer homes were destroyed Sunday when extreme fire behavior caused the Trigo Fire to jump contingency lines near the Forest boundary along Forest Road 245. A portion of the meeting will be dedicated to wildland/urban interface and how homeowners can plan for potential wildfire. Area residents will also be informed about local services available to property owners who were affected by the fire.After the fire danger is passed, soil erosion, watershed...Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:03:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6760/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6760/Date April 26, 2008 8:00 AM For Immediate ReleaseFirefighters Getting the Upper HandFirefighters seem to be getting the upper hand on the Trigo Fire. Crews have been battling steep, rough terrain, and strong, shifting winds for the past ten days. Northwest winds today are expected to assist firefighters. As fire behavior winds down, the focus will shift to rehabilitation efforts. A public meeting will be held at the Torreon Community Center at 6:00 p.m. this evening. "After the Wildfire - What Next " will be the topic.Nine weekend or summer homes were destroyed Sunday when extreme fire behavior caused the Trigo Fire to jump contingency lines near the Forest boundary along Forest Road 245. A portion of the meeting will be dedicated to wildland/urban interface and how homeowners can plan for potential wildfire. Area residents will also be informed about local services available to property owners who were affected by the fire.After the fire danger is passed, soil erosion, watershed...Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:03:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6758/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6758/Date April 25, 2008 9:00 PM For Immediate ReleaseFirefighters Turning the Corner on Trigo FireWeather conditions today were conducive to successful fire suppression efforts, and "We are turning the corner on this fire," said operations chief Ron Burnham. Rehabilitation was finished on the northwest flank, and rehabilitation will likely be completed on the southwest flank tomorrow.Crews used engines and hoses to wet down burning fuel in New Canyon east of the campground. Mop up on the northern flank west of the campground and along the dozer line on the southeastern flank is expected tomorrow. Helicopters saw limited use today, due to the fact that there were very few hotspots needing attention. Some burnout is still needed, but weather conditions tomorrow are not favorable for that operation. Burnout is planned for Sunday, when conditions are predicted to improve.A community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM in the Torreon Community Center. Possible natural resource...Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:02:00 -06:00http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6759/http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/1211/6759/Date April 25, 2008 9:00 PM For Immediate ReleaseFirefighters Turning the Corner on Trigo FireWeather conditions today were conducive to successful fire suppression efforts, and "We are turning the corner on this fire," said operations chief Ron Burnham. Rehabilitation was finished on the northwest flank, and rehabilitation will likely be completed on the southwest flank tomorrow.Crews used engines and hoses to wet down burning fuel in New Canyon east of the campground. Mop up on the northern flank west of the campground and along the dozer line on the southeastern flank is expected tomorrow. Helicopters saw limited use today, due to the fact that there were very few hotspots needing attention. Some burnout is still needed, but weather conditions tomorrow are not favorable for that operation. Burnout is planned for Sunday, when conditions are predicted to improve.A community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM in the Torreon Community Center. Possible natural resource...Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:02:00 -06:00