Las Conchas Wildfire – Day 9
After a lot of progress aided by favorable weather, things could get dicey today with hot, dry conditions and possible thunderstorms in the area. Shifting, gusty winds in thunderstorms, as well as lightning strikes can well exceed any benefit from the rain they contain.
Information from the current Las Conchas Wildfire InciWeb Page
- Date Started: 6/26/2011
- Location: Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35, New Mexico
- Cause: Falling tree hit power lines
- Size: 130,691 acres [204 miles² 529 km²] based on infrared data
- Percent Contained: 30%
- Injuries to Date: 5
- Residences: 410 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
- Commercial Property: 45 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
- Outbuildings: 110 threatened; 32 destroyed; damaged
- Other: destroyed
- Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,557 including hotshot crews and 63 hand crews
- Equipment: 14 dozers, 91 engines, 35 watertenders
- Aircraft: 20 helicopters, air tankers
- Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1
Overview
Firefighters expect hot, dry conditions today, with southwesterly winds. These winds may push the fire northeast. There is a chance of terrain-driven runs along drainages, which will push the fire upslope. With a probability of thunderstorms, firefighters will be watching for gusty, variable winds that can cause erratic fire behavior.
…NORTH ZONE – Communities of Santa Clara, Chicoma Mountain, Los Alamos, Parajito Mountain Ski area and surrounding areas:
Santa Clara Area/Chicoma Mountain: Firefighters expect the fire to spread up the north and east faces of Chicoma Mountain today, then shift toward the southern portion of the South Fork Fire burn area. Today, firefighters will prepare Valencia Road and Forest Road 27 for burn-out where necessary and look for opportunities to prevent the fire from spreading toward the South Fork Fire burn area. Firefighters are working with the Santa Clara Pueblos to provide structure protection plans within Santa Clara Canyon.
Los Alamos Area: Firefighters continue to patrol and mop up burned areas, as well as check the fire perimeter for spot fires as a result of shifting winds.
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area: Today, the fire is expected to continue to back toward the Los Alamos area. As winds shift to the southwest, firefighters expect the fire to spread at a slightly higher rate, which will also increase the likelihood for spotting. Today, firefighters plan to conduct burn-outs along Forest Trail 287 and to develop and reinforce contingency lines where needed.
SOUTH ZONE – Communities/areas including Bandelier National Monument, Bland and Cochiti Canyons, Bearhead Peak, Vallecitos de Los Indios, Sierra Los Pinos and surrounding areas:
Bandelier: Crews continue chipping branches and other flammable material left from fire suppression activities along NM State Highway 4, near Bandelier National Monument. Residents continue to see smoke from this area, but all columns of smoke are within the fire perimeter.
Bland and Cochiti Canyons: Crews will patrol the canyons to identify and mop up hot spots. Cochiti Canyon road is inaccessible. Bland Canyon road is cleared of debris.
Bearhead Peak: Fire continues backing down Bearhead Peak toward Peralta Creek. An aerial ignition operation that was conducted yesterday reduced the chance of a major run across the creek and up Peralta Ridge. The crest of Peralta Ridge was treated with retardant, and aerial ignition was applied just below the ridgeline. The resulting low intensity fire moved slowly down the ridge, causing less damage to trees and other natural resources. Aerial ignition operations may continue today.
Crews are making final preparations to the fire line along Forest Road 266. This line was established several days ago as an anchor point to check the fire growth along the southwest edge of the fire. Recent moisture and weather conditions resulted in minimal to moderate fire activity around the communication sites, Peralta Ridge, and Bearhead Mountain.
Vallecitos de Los Indios/Sierra Los Pinos: Crews will continue cleanup on the fire containment line to Los Griegos, while providing structure protection around the communication center. The local fire department has a structure protection plan.
NORTHWEST ZONE – Communities of Cuba, La Jar, Regina, Gallina, Youngsville, Coyote, Canones, and surrounding areas:
Crews made progress yesterday securing fire line in the Valles Caldera Preserve from the south boundary of the Preserve north to Valles Caldera Road 09 and the northern fire perimeter. They also began work along Forest Roads 27 and 144.
Today, crews will continue to hold and mop-up the fire and clear fuels along Forest Roads 27 and 144, north to the junction of Forest Roads 27 and 22. Due to extensive work completed by firefighters last year during the South Fork Fire, less work is needed on Forest Road 27. Progress will be slow but steady given the steep terrain and heavy fuels in this area. A lot of work remains to be done on Forest Road 144.
Structural protection specialists continue assessing needs for all private in-holdings located west of Forest Road 27.
[For the latest information click on the Fire symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Fires” for all of the posts related to wildfires on this site.]
