By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

The Ute Park Fire continues to consume the thick timber around Cimarron Canyon between Cimarron and Ute Park and has now consumed an estimated 30,000 acres according to the fire update from New Mexico Forestry Division.

Saturday afternoon a shift in wind direction forced a mandatory evacuation of Ute Park as fire activity flared up south of Ute Park. Roads in and out of Cimarron remain closed to the public. Access to Cimarron and the area is restricted to fire fighters and law enforcement.

This infrared map shows the areas where the fire is most active. As you can see on the left side of the area there is intense heat which is in the area that caused the evacuation of Ute Park.

There are now over 500 firefighters battling this blaze on four fronts as this map shows. Fire fighting efforts will concentrate again on water shed protection. The wind shift Saturday afternoon allowed firefighters to get a good handle on the fire on the southeast flank and east side of the fire. However the winds in the canyon flared up more fire south of Ute Park which is in thick heavy timber. Weather forecasts are indicating rain in the area of the fire. While the rain will be welcome high winds around the storms could spread the fire in other directions and lightning from the storms could spark new fires in the area. Higher humidity levels Sunday morning has helped to lay the fire down and fire fighters will work to get hot spots extinguished.

This is the Infrared Map that shows the Ute Park Fire Perimeter.

The smoke continues to billow up from the Ute Park Fire Photo by Leonard Baca

The smoke is thick and the flames erratic as the Ute Park Fire continues to consume the landscape. Photo by Leonard Baca

Tinder dry Ponderosa Pine trees go up in a ball of flame in a matter of seconds. Photo by Leonard Baca

Fire Information

EMNRD-FORESTRY DIVISION
Ute Park Fire – June 3, 2018 Morning Update

SOUTHWEST AREA INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT TEAM #1
Bea Day – Incident Commander

Severe Thunderstorms Expected Today

Acres: 31,930 (based on infrared data) Percent Containment: 0%
Start Date: May 31, 2018, 2:10pm Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Jurisdiction: NM State Fuels: Grass, Pinyon Juniper, Mixed Conifer
Origin Location: Highway 64 in Ute Park, NM, between Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron
Resources: 511 personnel including 10 crews, 7 helicopters, 32 engines, 8 dozers, 7 water tenders

Severe thunderstorms are predicted for the Ute Park Fire and the surrounding area through Sunday. Up to 1” of rain and 30 mph winds from the south are expected to impact the area beginning about noon. Flash flooding is expected. Precipitation may help limit fire activity in the short term, but critical fire weather conditions are expected to return. Firefighters are prepared to respond to new starts within the area as wide-spread lightning is expected today.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued last night for the residents of Ute Park. The fire did not move further north overnight. Firefighters put a dozer line around the community to help protect Ute Park. Firefighters continue to reduce fuels around structures and set up sprinkler systems. Visit https://bit.ly/2ssHjKi for an interactive Ute Peak fire map.

Extensive burning operations conducted yesterday to help protect the Cimarron area were successful on the fire’s eastern and southern flanks. Firefighters on the ground are securing control lines and mopping-up hot spots, aided by water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping air tankers.

The north flank of the Ute Park Fire is being slowed by the burn scar of the 2002 Ponil Fire. Firefighters are seeking opportunities to corral the fire into areas with lighter fuels and natural barriers in this area.

Safety is our #1 priority. Firefighters are using direct attack tactics where possible, protecting values at risk and limiting the fire’s spread. Values include firefighter and public safety, critical municipal watersheds, structures, and air quality.

Sign Up for Colfax County’s Emergency Alerts at https://bit.ly/2LbNdXh. Ute Park currently has a mandatory evacuation. Fourteen outbuildings have burned on the Philmont Scout Ranch. Approximately 296 structures are threatened in the community of Cimarron, which remains under a mandatory evacuation order. Philmont Scout Ranch staff have also evacuated to the Colfax Fairgrounds in Springer, NM. There are no scouts currently at the camp.

The Red Cross continues to have a shelter open at the Eagle Nest Senior Center at 74 N. Tomboy Dr., Eagle Nest, NM. The New Mexico Chapter of the American Red Cross is also supporting the City of Raton’s shelter at the Raton Convention Center, 901S. 3rd Street, Raton, NM. Evacuees are welcome at either shelter.

Call 511 or visit http://nmroads.com/ for current road information. US 64 is closed eastbound and westbound from mile marker 285 before Cimarron to mile marker 344 at Eagle Nest. NM 204 is closed northbound and southbound from mile marker 0 to mile marker 10. NM 21 is closed eastbound and westbound from mile marker 0 at Cimarron to mile marker 34 at Philmont. NM 58 is closed eastbound and westbound from mile marker 0 at Cimarron to mile marker 18. Cimarron State Park is closed. Eagle Nest Lake State Park is open, but Eagle Nest Lake is closed as firefighting helicopters are utilizing the lake as a water source.

Use the 5-3-1 visibility method to protect your health from smoke: https://bit.ly/2jJwwd7. Air Monitoring Resources are available online at https://bit.ly/2tm1VG6and https://bit.ly/2sqcLJ4.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. More info visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org

Ute Park Fire Info: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5820/ (air quality info, maps, etc.) and http://nmfireinfo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ute-Park-Fire-Info-378765475953098/ Twitter: @uteparkfireinfo
Public Line: (505) 309-0751 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Media Line: (520) 485-8073 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Fire Information

EMNRD-FORESTRY DIVISION
Ute Park Fire – June 3, 2018 Evening Update

SOUTHWEST AREA INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT TEAM #1
Bea Day – Incident Commander

Minimal Fire Activity Today

Acres: 36,083 (based on improved mapping)                                      Percent Containment: 23%
Start Date: May 31, 2018, 2:10pm                                                       Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Jurisdiction: NM State                                                                         Fuels: Grass, Pinyon Juniper, Mixed Conifer
Origin Location: Highway 64 in Ute Park, NM, between Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron
Resources: 498 personnel including 13 crews, 8 helicopters, 19 engines, 2 bulldozers, 6 water tenders

A community meeting will be held Monday at 4 pm at the Angel Fire Community Center, located at 15 Cs Ranch Road, Angel Fire, NM, 87710. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://facebook.com/uteparkfireinfo.

Wetting rain persisted over the Ute Park Fire today, resulting in limited fire activity. Critical fire weather and smoky conditions are expected to return in the coming days. Firefighters are prepared to respond to new fire starts in the area.

Increased containment on the Ute Park Fire is credited to successful burnout operations on the fire’s east and south flanks. Today firefighters mopped-up hotspots and suppressed a small spot fire on the fire’s south flank. A mandatory evacuation order is still in effect for the Cimarron area. Approximately 550 structures are threatened in this area.

In the Ute Park area, firefighters continued to construct fireline in preparation for future burnouts to protect structures in the area. Hotshot crews constructed fireline and suppressed hotspots in Bear Canyon, and will continue working northeast, aided by the 2002 Ponil Fire burn scar and natural barriers in the area. Ute Park is still under a mandatory evacuation order. Approximately 219 residences are threatened in this area.

No residences have burned on the Ute Park Fire. Fourteen outbuildings burned on the Philmont Ranch on May 31.

Sign Up for Colfax County’s Emergency Alerts at https://bit.ly/2LbNdXh.

Cimarron Canyon State Park is closed. Eagle Nest Lake State Park is open, but Eagle Nest Lake is closed to boating as firefighting helicopters are utilizing the lake as a water source. The Carson National Forest has implemented an area closure as a precaution to potential fire spread.

Use the 5-3-1 visibility method to protect your health from smoke: https://bit.ly/2jJwwd7. Air Monitoring Resources are available online at https://bit.ly/2tm1VG6and https://bit.ly/2sqcLJ4.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. More info visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org

Ute Park Fire Sunday Update

Fire Information

Fire Information