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Firefighters Can Expect More Wind, Hot Weather
The Associated Press
fire
June 10, 2002
CIMARRON, N.M. — Hundreds of firefighters battling a series of wildfires in northeast New Mexico that have burned an estimated 85,000 acres aren't likely to get a break from the weather.
The forecast for Monday afternoon called for single-digit humidity and double-digit winds.
"Conditions are extremely ripe for intense fire behavior," fire information officer Tom Lavagnino said.
Firefighters and a fleet of air tankers and water-dropping helicopters are trying to slow down the fires that have been burning for days on and around the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch.
The Ponil Complex fire was fueled by erratic winds Sunday and officials expected more of the same Monday. Smoke from the fire has been drifting into the Texas Panhandle, triggering calls from residents and officials in Amarillo, Lavagnino said.
"We had gusts up to 40 miles per hour and sustained winds of about 20 miles per hour," Lavagnino said late Sunday. "It was enough to give them (firefighters) a challenge but not as much as we expected."
Flames jumped fire lines Sunday on the east flank and moved into Chase Canyon while the head of the fire continued to march northward because of the erratic winds, Lavagnino said.
The good news, he said, was that no homes had been lost and no injuries had been reported since firefighters began battling the blaze June 2 when it was sparked by lightning.
Firefighters have been concentrating on the southern end of the Ponil Complex to make sure it does not reach U.S. 64 or backtrack toward the community of Ute Park.
The fire was less than a mile from Ute Park, but Lavagnino said the community was not threatened. The winds were generally coming from the southwest, blowing the flames away from the town.
"They have Ute Park buttoned up nicely," he said.
Fire officials met with about 50 Ute Park residents Sunday afternoon to give them an update. There are about 150 houses in the area, most summer homes.
About 1,000 firefighters were assigned to the fire. They were helped by 11 trucks hauling water in tanks, 10 helicopters, four air tankers, 20 engines and four bulldozers.
At the Philmont Ranch, Boy Scouts began arriving for the summer backpacking program. The fire has burned two sheds on the ranch, and ranch officials were working to ensure scout safety and to reroute hiking itineraries.
In western New Mexico, firefighters and a team of air tankers were able to put a dent in the Cherry Fire. The blaze has burned about 8,200 acres in the El Malpais Wilderness. It grew by about 2,000 acres Sunday because of strong winds.
"We turned a very significant corner today (Sunday) in terms of firefighting tactics," said information officer Bernie Pineda. "Keep in mind we had a very significant wind event at our backs and we were able to hold our lines."
Air tankers ran more than two dozen sorties, dropping fire retardant around the blaze's perimeter as firefighters tied off the eastern edge and kept an eye on hot spots on its southern side.
More than 400 firefighters and support personnel were working on the Cherry Fire, including four crews of firefighters who arrived late Sunday from Arizona.
With fires raging throughout the West, some of the air tankers that have been dumping fire retardant chemicals on the fire may be sent to those states, Pineda said Monday.
"We may lose some of them," he said. If that happens, helicopters and single-engine aircraft would be brought in, Pineda said.
Pineda said residents of 10 nearby homes were told about the fire, and two families chose to leave as a precaution. He said the homes were not threatened.
State police are closing N.M. 117 from Interstate 40 south to N.M. 36 nightly because of settling smoke. Pineda said the closures, in effect until further notice, do not apply to area homeowners.
The Cherry Fire was apparently started by lightning, officials said.
In southern New Mexico, two small wildfires were burning in the Gila Wilderness northwest of Silver City.
Fire information officer Dean Burnham said 15 firefighters were working on the 38-acre Panther Fire, while a dozen firefighters were battling the nearby 25-acre Apache Fire.
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