No structures threatened or injuries connected to two fires that broke out last week, one of the Mescalero Reservation and the other north of the village of Ruidoso
The Rumuda Fire remained at 615 acres in size at its location about two miles east of Cow Camp #1 on the reservation that adjoins the village, according to Forest Manager Erica Enjady. While officials have determined the fire was human-caused, an investigation continues, she said.
When the fire first was reported Feb. 10, Bureau of Indian Affairs Mescalero Agency firefighters responded. The fire was burning in grass and pinyon-juniper stands. Light winds caused the rapid spread of the fire through the thick grass. No homes or structures were threatened. Part of the fire area had previously been treated for grassland restoration and numerous pinyon-juniper slash piles were consumed by the fire. Firefighting resources from the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Lincoln National Forest, and New Mexico State Forestry assisted the BIA with initial attack.
On Friday, firefighters conducted firing operations to burn out unburned islands of grass within the interior of the fire. Firefighters continued working towards full containment by securing the fire perimeter. Mop-up activities also continued. Two engines were released from the fire to respond to the new fire near Ruidoso. Resources that remain on the Mescalero incident include three engines, one water tender, and a Type 2 Initial Attack Crew.
Lincoln County Emergency Services Manager Joe Kenmore said Tuesday that the fire reported Friday on the north side of Airport Road was extinguished with help from fire fighting units from the U.S. Forest Service, the State Forestry, the Bonito Volunteer Fire Department, the Ruidoso Fire Department, the Nogal Volunteer Fire Department, the Capitan Fire Department and help from Sierra Blanca Regional Airport fire staff.
The fire was confined to 8.9 acres and no structures were damaged.. No injuries occurred. Airport Road was closed temporarily, because of heavy smoke and to control traffic, he said.
Sheriff Robert Shepperd Tuesday told county commissioners that an individual hired by a property manager to supervise the controlled burn on New Mexico Highway 220, Airport Road, will receive a criminal summons for improper handling of a fire. He said the individual had no water source available.
Kenmore said the fire came close to houses and people need to be re-educated about controlled burns and required precautions. Besides the need for water on site, he suggested Instead of a large pile of debris that might flare out of control, smaller piles could be burned or more debris added as a fire lessens in intensity.
"We have to watch on days with 6 percent humidity," he said. "There may be snow on the ground, but the grass is dry."
Commissioner Dallas Draper asked if the county should consider a ban on outdoor burning. Kenmore said a ban can be imposed on days with significant wind, but he preferred seeing how spring weather plays out before banning all outdoor fires in unincorporated areas of the county. Many ranchers are interested in burning off old dead grass, he said.
The county received more than 100 percent of the precipitation that fell last year, he said,
Contact info: Don Swanner's Tree Service, 150 Loma Grande,
Nogal, NM 88341. 575.937.3255. swannerdon62@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment