News Release - June 25, 2011
Incident: Pacheco Fire Wildfire
Released: 6/25/2011
Pacheco Fire News Release
June 25, 2011 9:00 a.m.
Fire Information: (505) 473-3760 or (505) 473-3792
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Acres: 6,802 Start date: June 18, 2011
Cause: Under Investigation Location: 2 miles north of Santa Fe Ski Basin
Containment: 18 percent Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine
Terrain: Steep, rugged Resources: 18 crews, 14 engines, 7 water tenders, 1 dozer
Total personnel: 705 Available air support: 9 helicopters
Summary: Yesterday's fire behavior was less than expected. A portion of the acreage increase was due to a successful nighttime burning operation. The winds remained stable within the fire perimeter. Firefighters maintained and improved the established anchor and continued constructing fire line at the south and west end of the fire. The southwest line was mopped up 300 feet inside the fire perimeter. Hand crews completed indirect line from the fire edge in the bottom of Rio Nambe canyon. Direct fireline was also completed on the west edge of the fire.
Similar behavior is expected again today as weather predictions remain constant. The fire is mostly within the Pecos Wilderness. It is progressing to the northeast and remains within the direct firelines. Mop up will continue to prevent reignition.
Cause: The Santa Fe National Forest is requesting that anyone having knowledge of or having been in the vicinity of the Pacheco Fire (north of Aspen Ranch by the Borrego Trail) between June 17 and June 18 please contact the Santa Fe National Forest at (505) 438-5372.
Threats: The Santa Fe watershed, Santa Fe ski area, Nambe Pueblo lands, Tesuque Pueblo lands and Tesuque Peak communications site remained threatened. No evacuations are in effect at this time within Pacheco Canyon. Residents of the area should remain aware of changing conditions as fire spread increases.
Smoke: Smoke from the fire drifted mainly to the east. Smoke will remain a concern in the fire area until the summer rains come. Communities downwind of the fire should expect smoke impacts in the days ahead. Smoke sensitive persons in the area need to be alert to this possibility and be prepared to take any necessary precautions. For more smoke information and air quality forecasts, please visit the New Mexico Environment Department's website at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/WildfireSmokeResources.htm.
Other websites with useful information concerning smoke are: http://smoke.airfire.org/sw-outlook, http://smoke.airfire.org/sw-outlook/map, http://smoke.airfire.org/sw-monitoring.
Road and Fire Area Closure: New Mexico Route 475, also known as Hyde Park Road, and Artist Road are closed at mile post 9, at the Forest boundary. Forest Service Road 102 to Pacheco Road is also closed.
A Fire Area Closure has been enacted. Review it at: www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/conditions/index.html
Open and active: Communities in and around the Santa Fe National Forest remain open and accessible including Tesuque, Nambe, Santa Fe, and Pecos (including the Highway 63 corridor).
Fire Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest implemented Stage III Fire Restrictions across the Forest yesterday. Stage III Fire Restrictions restrict access to/use of certain parts of the Forest, yet there are recreational opportunities available. The detailed list of what is off limits (restricted) is now available. For that list please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/. Open areas will remain under Stage II restrictions.
