FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2018
Contact: 575-445-5551

UPDATED: Ute Park Fire Contingency Voting Plan for Displaced Colfax County Voters

Ute Park Still under Evacuation Order; Village of Cimarron Cleared for Re-Entry

RATON – Colfax County Clerk Rayetta Trujillo today announced an update to a plan that will allow Colfax County residents who have been displaced by the Ute Park Fire evacuation orders to cast their 2018 Primary Election ballots at alternative locations.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the Village of Cimarron on Friday, June 1, and for the community of Ute Park on Saturday, June 2. Earlier today, the evacuation order for the Village of Cimarron was lifted residents were cleared to re-enter their homes today.   The Red Cross is operating an evacuation center in Eagle Nest at the Senior Center and they’re supporting a second evacuation center at the Raton Convention Center.

Because the Cimarron evacuation order has been lifted, Ute Park and Village of Cimarron voters will be able to vote at their regular polling location at Cimarron City Hall located at 356 E. 9^thStreet, #B on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 5, 2018.  Ute Park and the Village of Cimarron voters who remain displaced by the fire will also be able to cast a provisional ballot at the Raton Convention Center located at 901 S. 3^rd Street or at the Eagle Nest Community Center, located at 151 Willow Creek Drive, which will be qualified and counted after Election Day.

 

PHILMONT PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT – UTE PARK FIRE 6/4/18 4:00 MDT

The safety of our youth participants, volunteers and staff is a priority for everybody at Philmont Scout Ranch and the Boy Scouts of America.  While efforts continue to extinguish the fire currently burning in the back-country, the anticipated damage and inability to access the affected areas makes it currently impossible to host back country programs.  Until the fire is extinguished, the areas are inspected and the damage assessed, it is impossible to definitively state when those programs will resume.

At this time, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all backcountry treks that were scheduled to take place in the Philmont backcountry from June 8 – July 14, 2018.  We hope that back country treks may resume after July 14, 2018 with altered itineraries, assuming the back country is safe and infrastructure is restored.

Additionally, programs scheduled to take place at Philmont Training Center will also be canceled through June 23, 2018. The Philmont Training Center expects to welcome back participants beginning with Philmont Family Adventure on June 24, 2018.

The NAYLE program, which takes place at Rayado Ridge Leadership Camp seven miles south of the Philmont Base Camp and is unaffected by the Ute Park Fire, will go on as scheduled.

Over the next few days, we will be contacting the lead advisor or contingent leader of all crews that are impacted by this decision, starting with those that are scheduled to arrive first, as well as affected PTC coordinators. Thank you in advance for allowing the Philmont team to contact your crew – your assistance will help make sure that Philmont phone lines remain open.

We will continue to work with local, state and federal authorities to continuously evaluate the fire and air quality to ensure that we can safely deliver outstanding program.

Thank you for your support and patience.

6/4/18 Ute Park Fire Re-enrty of Cimarron
Ute Park Fire Wildfire
Announcements
Colfax County and The Village of Cimarron are pleased to announce that the citizens of Cimarron and the immediate surrounding area are cleared to re-enter their homes today June 4th, 2018.

Ute Park and all property access off NM 204 is still closed and under evacuation orders.

In order to ensure a peaceful transition with no traffic headaches, we have divided the town and immediate area into four sectors. Residents are asked to return to town according to the sector in which you reside.

Sector A- North of Highway 64 and West of Washington can return at Noon

Sector B- South of Highway 64 and West of Collison can return at 1PM

Sector C- North of Highway 64 and East of Washington can return at 2PM (not including Lambert Hills)

Sector D- South of Highway 64 and East of Collison can return at 3PM (including Lambert Hills and Mountain Meadows)

We ask that you obey all speed limits and traffic laws while returning. There will be a sizeable law enforcement presence to assist in this transition. We want to stress that there was no reported fire damage to any structures in and around the Cimarron area. Your homes are safe.

The fire threat to Cimarron has been minimized; however there are still some concerns. Air quality will continue to be an issue as the Ute Park Fire is expected to burn for some time. The winds will change over the course of this fire and there will be a smoke presence. There is an air quality monitoring station in Cimarron that will provide up to date info on potential hazards. Updates on smoke and air quality and links to monitoring information will be available on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5820/ and https://nmfireinfo.com.

We also have some concerns regarding future water quality. The Cimarroncito Reservoir and surrounding water shed did sustain fire damage. We will be vigilantly monitoring the water quality for the village and are developing a long term plan to address the damage sustained to the watershed. As a result, and until we can get a solid grasp of the short term impacts of the water supply, Stage 4 Water Restrictions will be in place for all residents on the Cimarron Domestic Water System. (Please see Village of Cimarron Public Notice dated June 3, 2018)

Please be aware that US Highway 64 and NM 204 will remain closed between Cimarron and Eagle Nest due to ongoing firefighting efforts and damage to the highway corridor. Highway 64 will be open from Cimarron to Raton. Highway 58 from Springer to Cimarron will be opened. Highway 21 Springer to Cimarron will be opened at noon, however there will be considerable fire traffic so we advise Highway 58 be used instead.

We thank you for your patience, kindness, generosity and perseverance through this trying time.

Fire Information EMNRD-FORESTRY DIVISION Ute Park Fire – June 4, 2018 Morning Update SOUTHWEST AREA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #1 Bea Day – Incident Commander Cimarron Residents Returning Ute Park Fire – June 4, 2018 Evening Update Acres: 36,664 acres                                                                                   Percent Containment: 25% 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: 598 personnel including 15 crews, 8 helicopters, 29 engines, 5 bulldozers, 9 water tenders The evacuation order for Cimarron and the surrounding area was lifted today. Highway 64 remains closed for the public’s safety. Road and utility crews are repairing damaged sections of highway and utility poles impacted by the fire. Sunday’s wetting rains resulted in limited fire activity and smoke today. Critical fire weather and smoky conditions are expected to return in the coming days as a high-pressure system is building from the south. Power was restored to Ute Park Monday evening. A mandatory evacuation order is still in place for the community and 219 structures remain threatened. Firefighters are setting up hose lays and sprinkler systems around structures in preparation for burning operations on the fire’s southwest flank. A community meeting was held today at the Angel Fire Community Center. The meeting was recorded and can be viewed at https://facebook.com/uteparkfireinfo. Additional community meetings are being planned. Firefighters are patrolling the fire’s east and south flank and working directly on the southwest flank to help minimize impacts to the Cimarroncito and Urraca Watersheds. On the fire’s north flank, firefighters are making progress and working directly on the fire’s edge. The 2002 Ponil Fire burn scar and lighter fuels are helping crews gain containment in this area. No residences have burned on the Ute Park Fire. Fourteen outbuildings burned on the Philmont Scout Ranch on May 31. Values at risk remain the public and firefighters, the community of Ute Park, the Philmont Scout Ranch, the Cimarroncito and Urraca Watersheds, Cimarron Canyon State Park, private lands, economic benefits from tourism and recreation in the area, and air quality. 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. The Red Cross is operating a shelter at the Eagle Nest Senior Center at 74 N. Tomboy Dr., Eagle Nest, NM. Call 511 or visit http://nmroads.com/ for current road information. Closure at US 64 eastbound and westbound from mile marker 287 to mile marker 309 Cimarron. NM 204 is closed northbound and southbound from mile marker 0 to mile marker 10. Cimarron 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 temporary closure of the East Side of Valle Vidal Unit as a precaution to potential fire spread. More info: https://bit.ly/2LZtHi3 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 Colfax County Emergency Management Information: https://bit.ly/2LbNdXh Facebook: https://facebook.com/uteparkfireinfo                 Twitter: https://twitter.com/utparkfireinfo Public Line: (505) 309-0751 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)                  Media Line: (520) 485-8073 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)