Las Conchas Wildfire – Day 5
The Las Conchos Fire is now the largest in New Mexico history, surpassing the 2003 Dry Lakes Fire. Currently activity is away from communities and has entered areas that were burned over in the 2000 Cerro Grande fire.
The city of Albuquerque has issued an Air Quality Alert due to wildfire smoke from the fire.
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: Unknown – under investigation
- Size: 103,842 acres [162 miles² 420 km²] based on infrared data
- Percent Contained: 3%
- Injuries to Date: 0
- Residences: 13 destroyed; 3 damaged
- Commercial Property: 3 damaged
- Outbuildings: 2 destroyed
- Number of Personnel: Approximately 1,201 including 6 hotshot crews and 25 hand crews
- Equipment: 4 dozers, 52 engines
- Aircraft: 9 helicopters
- Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1
Today short runs with spotting less than 1 mile occurred on the north head of fire. Continued backing and flanking fire occurred on the east and west flanks.
North – Firefighters monitored long-range spotting. The fire moved northeast past NM Hwy 144 and spread into parts of the Cerro Grande burn area. Tomorrow firefighters will continue to focus their efforts in this area scouting for potential fire line and burnout opportunities.
East – Mop up efforts along NM Hwy 501 proved successful today. Firefighters will continue burnout operations along the Pajarito Ski Area to reduce the likelihood for spotting. Firefighters continued structural protection for the Pajarito Ski Area and the Bandelier National Monument in coordination with the Los Alamos Fire Department.
Southside of north zone -Today firefighters worked along the Frijoles Canyon and Alamo Canyon.
West – Firefighters maintained the fire line along NM Hwy 4. Favorable winds have helped firefighting efforts in this area.Current Evacuations:
[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.]
