Soldier Wildfire Update
Incident: Soldier Wildfire
Released: 5/12/2009
Fire Name: Soldier Fire
Time/Date Started: 3:45 PM on Sunday, May 10, 2009
Location: 5 miles northeast of Pecos, NM, within San Miguel County. The fire is burning on private (New Mexico State Forestry) and on Santa Fe National Forest lands.
Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer
Size: Approximately 144 acres. Acreage has increased due to some fire growth and accurate mapping.
% Contained: 50%.
Summary: Yesterday, firefighters made good progress on the Soldier Fire. Much of the fire has some handline constructed along the perimeter. The fire calmed considerably on the southwest end of the fire near the threatened structures. Firefighters mopped up the southern end by putting out burning material near control lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned. They used water from helicopters and engines where possible. The fire is most active within the fire's interior and spotting near the northwest and northeast sides of the fire towards the old Viveash Fire of 2000. Although the area has burned before, the area still poses a risk due the amount of grass and downed logs available to burn and the strong winds that are being forecast for today. Last night, firefighters patrolled and mopped up areas where it is safe to work. Today firefighters will finish, improve, and hold containment lines. They will continue to put out burning material near containment lines, and suppress any new spot fires that may be started by drifting embers burning in green unburned areas.
Resources Committed: Northern New Mexico Type 3 Team, 7 engines, 5 Type 1 Hotshot crews, 1 Type 2 crew, 1 Water Tender, 1 Dozer, 2 Helicopters.
Predicted Weather: For today it will be mostly sunny, maximum temperatures 74-78 degrees; relative humidity 9-13 %. Winds are expected from the west at 7 to 10 mph, picking up to 16-24 mph in the afternoon. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the area from 1 pm to 8 pm today due to strong winds and low humidity levels. A Red Flag Warning is issued by National Weather Service (NWS) to call attention to critical weather conditions that may result in extreme fire behavior. Critical weather conditions include: sustained winds, low relative humidity and high fire danger.
Structures: There are two cabins near the area, one is currently under construction.
Evacuations: No evacuations are in place at this time.
Injuries: No injuries have been reported.
Road Closures: The road block that was placed at the end of State Road 223 last night has been moved further north to the intersection of Forest Service Road 86 and 86A. Forest Service 86A is closed for firefighter and public safety. The road block is not at the intersection of Forest Service Road 92 and 86, as previously reported. Forest Service Road 86 to Bull Creek is open and Forest Service Road 92 to Osha are open.
