URL: http://www.abqjournal.com/fire/pmfires06-07-02.htm

June 7, 2002
Weekend Winds May Whip Up 90,000-Acre Ponil Fire
The Associated Press     CIMARRON, N.M.   —   Firefighters were working to rein in a series of wildfires on and around a Boy Scout ranch in northern New Mexico before strong winds forecast for this weekend hamper their efforts.
    The fires, known collectively as the Ponil Complex, grew to an estimated 90,000 acres Thursday and were upgraded to a Type I incident, the most urgent firefighting status.
    "The thinking is this fire is so large," said information officer Walt Hisenberg, "and we're exhausting resources."
    The more urgent designation will increase firefighting forces substantially from 284 people, six engines and a bulldozer, he said. The fire was 10 percent contained Friday.
    "There's major wind forecast for Saturday, which causes concern for the safety and welfare of the firefighters," Hisenberg said. "Also, it may prohibit air attack because of the prediction of wind gusts of up to 55 miles per hour."
    Friday's forecast was for higher temperatures and winds and lower humidity, and officials said that would increase the fire's activity as well.
    Ground crews will be working on fire lines ahead of the fire help stop it.
    Friday's efforts were concentrating on the village of Ute Park, about a mile from the fire.
    Fire information officer Nick Zufelt said the community of about 150 houses, most of them summer vacation homes, was not in danger but "because of the visibility and the concern by folks there, we're putting our efforts there."
    Fire retardant will be dropped in the area, and strike teams and engines also were put on that section, Zufelt said.
    The fire also could trigger smoke and visibility problems on Interstate 25 in northeastern New Mexico from Springer to Raton, Hisenberg said.
    A nearby 1,295-acre blaze known as the Turkey Fire was listed as contained Thursday evening.
    Firefighters on Friday also began battling a 1,192-acre blaze, the Cherry Fire in El Malpais Wilderness, which was sending smoke down a valley 25 miles into Grants.
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday announced it would pay 75 percent of the costs related to fighting the Ponil fire   —   the sixth time in a little over a month that the agency stepped in to help fund firefighting efforts in New Mexico.
    Keith Gallaway, general manager of the 220-square-mile Philmont Scout Ranch, said he believes the Ponil Complex destroyed two hay sheds in a remote area. Although Philmont has its headquarters four miles south of Cimarron, its acreage extends for many miles north, south and west of the town.
    Scouts begin arriving Sunday for the Philmont's summer backpacking program. Gallaway said ranch officials are working on rerouting itineraries to ensure scout safety.
    A lookout tower on Oso Ridge spotted the lightning-sparked Cherry Fire on Tuesday evening 25 miles south of Grants. By Thursday, it had burned about 100 acres, and officials scheduled fire suppression efforts for Friday, said information officer Terry Burton.
    But evening winds picked up, the fire grew tenfold by Friday morning and the cooler nighttime temperatures dropped the smoke into Grants, Burton said.
    Cibola General Hospital in Grants issued a health alert for people with upper respiratory problems to stay indoors.
    The fire on the wilderness area of the National Park Service's El Malpais National Monument was burning mostly grass and shrub, creeping low to the ground, Burton said.
    Because the fire is in a wilderness area, there are no homes threatened, she said.
    Meanwhile, a blaze called the Cerro Pelado Fire, which burned 13,179 acres of ponderosa pine and grass three miles northeast of Ojo Feliz, was contained Thursday evening, officials said.
    Firefighters also contained the Bonita Fire, which burned 1,152 acres of ponderosa pine and grass five miles north of Ocate. Officials said the fire destroyed a barn, a wellhouse and a horse trailer.
    Another blaze, the Spring Fire on the Vermejo Park Ranch 32 miles west-northwest of Raton, burned 2,000 to 3,000 acres of mixed conifer and ponderosa pine in New Mexico before combining with a larger blaze in southeastern Colorado.