6/6/18 Ute Park Fire Air Quality Report

Fire
Yesterday’s unexpected cloud cover dampened predicted active fire behavior. Today’s potential for significant fire growth is high due to dry fuels and unstable air flow. Extreme fire behavior is a possibility. Successful suppression efforts may reduce this potential.

Smoke
Today’s smoke forecast is conservative based on the assumption that this fire will grow significantly. Should that occur Ute Park, Philmont, Cimarron, Raton and Trinidad may see smoke impacts beginning this afternoon. As smoke lays down overnight communities nearest and downwind of the fire (Cimarron, Ute Park, Philmont and Springer) will see greater impacts by early tomorrow morning, clearing around mid-morning.

5-3-1 Visibility Method
No monitor in your area? Use your eyes to determine if it’s safe to be outside. If visibility is over five miles, air quality is generally good. For guidance on using visibility to determine smoke impacts to your health visit: https://nmtracking.org/fire

Fire Information

EMNRD-FORESTRY DIVISION
Ute Park Fire – June 6, 2018 Evening Update

SOUTHWEST AREA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #1
BEA DAY – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Cloud Cover Moderated Fire Behavior Today

Acres: 36,800 acres Percent Containment: 35%
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: 611 personnel including 19 crews, 7 helicopters, 29 engines, 7 bulldozers, 10 water tenders

Prevalent cloud cover shaded the fire and limited fire activity today. Today’s increased containment is on the north side of the fire. Fire activity and smoke within the fire’s perimeter were visible from Cimarron area today, where the fire is burning a pocket of unburned pinyon junior within the containment lines. Fire activity is expected to continue in this area, but is surrounded by previously burned areas that will confine its spread.

Hotshot crews made significant progress constructing direct fireline on the west side of the fire today. They will continue to focus on tying in a critical piece of line in coming days to help limit the fire’s spread to the west.

The smoke forecast has been updated for tonight and tomorrow based on today’s cloud cover. Any smoke impacts will be seen locally in communities closest to the fire including Ute Park and Cimarron. Smoke will drift and settle into these areas after midnight tonight and linger until mid-morning tomorrow. The latest smoke outlook is available at https://bit.ly/2Jj0c98.

Ute Park remains evacuated and State Highway 64 (between Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron Canyon) remains closed for public safety. These areas remain closed as firefighters continue to work with collaborators to mitigate and address concerns related to uncontained fire activity, road conditions, powerlines, flash flooding, and firefighter safety. In the Ute Park area, firefighters and cooperators are working along the roadway, chipping thinned vegetation, and need the highway closed to make room for equipment and give them space to operate safely. Road crews are installing Jersey barriers along sections of Highway 64 to help catch potential flooding debris. The power company is also working along the roadway.

No homes have burned on the Ute Park Fire. A mandatory evacuation order for the community of Ute Park is still in place and 219 residences remain threatened. Structure protection measures are in place if needed, including hoselays and sprinklers. Fourteen outbuildings burned on the Philmont Scout Ranch on May 31.

Firefighters are working to suppress this fire where they can do so safely and effectively. Values at risk include public and firefighter safety, 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 at https://bit.ly/2tm1VG6, https://bit.ly/2sqcLJ4. A Smoke Forecast is available at https://bit.ly/2Jj0c98.

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 info. NM 204 is closed north and south of mile marker 0 to mile marker 10. US 64 remains closed eastbound and westbound from mile marker 287 to mile marker 309 at Cimarron.

Cimarron State Park remains closed. Eagle Nest Lake State Park is fully open.

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/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 6, 2018 Morning Update

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

Fire Behavior Expected to Increase with Hot and Dry Weather

Acres: 36,800 acres                                                                                Percent Containment: 30%
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: 604 personnel including 15 crews, 7 helicopters, 29 engines, 7 bulldozers, 10 water tenders

Crews are concentrating efforts on the west and southwest flanks of the fire. Hotshot crews are constructing handline, digging down to bare mineral soil, to help limit the fire’s spread. They are working in steep, rugged, remote terrain. Helicopters will continue dropping water to help support firefighters on the ground. Firefighters are also scouting and planning for contingency lines in the event burning operations become necessary

Firefighters are clearing brush along Highway 64 west of Ute Park. A mandatory evacuation order for the community is still in place and 219 residences remain threatened. Structure protection measures are in place if needed, including hoselays and sprinklers.

Minimal movement along north and northeastern flanks is anticipated. The eastern portion of the fire is contained. Firefighters expect smoldering and moderate fire activity within the fire’s perimeter in this area.

Crews are patrolling the fire’s east and south flanks and mopping-up hot spots. A spike camp is set up at the Philmont Scout Ranch to better support these firefighters and minimize travel times to the fireline.

A community meeting was held yesterday in Cimarron, and can be viewed at https://facebook.com/uteparkfireinfo.

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

Cimarron State Park remains closed. Carson National Forest has rescinded its temporary closure of the East Side of Valle Vidal Unit. Eagle Nest Lake State Park is now open to boating.

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/2tm1VG6, https://bit.ly/2sqcLJ4, and https://bit.ly/2Jj0c98.

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. US 64 remains closed eastbound and westbound from mile marker 287 to mile marker 309 at Cimarron. Road crews installing Jersey barriers along sections of Highway 64. NM 204 is closed north and south of mile marker 0 to mile marker 10.

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 Wednesday Update

Fire Information

Fire Information