#LittleBearFire June 14, 9 am – More Active Fire Behavior Expected Today Due to Dry Sunny Weather.

JUNE 14, 2012 BY NPSNMFIREINFO

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Fire Information: (575)258-6900

www.inciweb.org

nmfireinfo.com

Size: approx. 37,912 acres

Containment: 40 %

Resources Committed: Personnel: 1,339; crews: 10 Type 1, 24 Type 2; engines: 74; helicopters: 6 Type 1, 2 Type 2, 2 Type 3; dozers: 6; water tenders: 22

Injuries: 2 (heat related illness)

Today’s Weather: 75-86 degrees, relative humidity 5-10%, wind SW 10-20 mph gusting to 35 mph

Structures destroyed: 234 (224 residential structures and 10 outbuildings)

Road Closures: NM 532 (Ski Run Road) at the junction with NM48, east and west; NM 37 from mile marker 0 to mile marker 8 North and south. NM 48 has been reopened for through traffic.

Area Closures: The entire White Mountain Wilderness, and that portion of the Smokey Bear Ranger District south of US 380 to the Mescalero Apache Reservation boundary, including a large area east and north of Ruidoso to the south boundary of the Fort Stanton Recreation Area.

Summary: Sunny, dry weather today will result in more active fire behavior and an increase in visible smoke. Crews finished burnout on the south side last night and will be doing heavy mop up today. On the west side indirect line will be constructed, with aircraft support if necessary. Indirect line will be constructed on the northwest from Forest Road 108 to the Crest Trail. Structure protection will be in place along Forest Road 108, and on the north side of the fire, direct line construction, patrol and mop up continues. On the northeastern flank, containment lines are in place for a burnout if weather permits. Patrol and mop up will continue on the east and southeastern perimeters.

Re-entry into some neighborhoods has begun, and residents returning to their homes should be alert for fire vehicle traffic.

Meetings: Community meetings will be conducted in the main gymnasium of Ruidoso High School, 125 Warrior Road at 4:30 p.m., and at 7:00 p.m. A community meeting will also be conducted at the fairgrounds in Capitan at 7:00 p.m.

Lincoln County Commissioner Jackie Powell will conduct a brief meeting regarding the possibilities of flooding and damage in the Valley after the Little Bear fire. The meeting will be conducted at Hondo School on Highway 70, Hondo, NM at 6:30 p.m. today.

Evacuations: All campgrounds west of Bonito Lake; subdivisions of Villa Madonna, Enchanted Forest, Nogal Canyon (Forest Road 400, campground and summer homes), Angus, Sierra Vista, Sonterra 1 and 2, Copper Canyon, Loma Grande, Eagle Lakes Campground, Eagle Creek summer homes, Sun Valley and La Junta. Sonterra 3, Cap Rock Court, and Pine Hill Loop are reopened for residents. This list may not be all inclusive. Evacuees may contact either Alto (336-4341) or Nogal ( 354-2548) post offices to arrange for mail pick up.

Shelters: Ruidoso High School at 125 Warrior Road, and Trinity Baptist Church in Capitan. Pets and livestock may be taken to the fairgrounds in Capitan, Pet Paradise in La Luz (575-434-1784), Otero County fairgrounds in Alamogordo (575-434-0788 or 575-491-7553), Lincoln County fairgrounds in Carrizozo (575-808-2814), Lincoln County animal shelter in Ruidoso (575-257-9814 or 575-963-6745), DVM Faris in Ruidoso (575-257-4027), Dunagan Farms in Ruidoso (575-257-9549 or 575-621-4056), and Don Harfield with the New Mexico Livestock Board (575-649-2758)

Information on wildland fire smoke and your health can be found on the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at: https://nmtracking.unm.edu/eh_alerts/, or call the New Mexico statewide health line at (877)304-4161.

Start Time/Date:Monday, June 4, 2012

Location: Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln NF, including White Mountain Wilderness

Cause: Lightning

Fuels: Mixed conifer, ponderosa pine

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!

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