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Middle Mesa Fire near CO border burns more than 2,000 acres, with ‘hot, very dry’ conditions ahead
The Middle Mesa Fire burns near oil and gas infrastructure in the Carson National Forest on Saturday.
A wildfire burning near the Colorado border has quickly grown to more than 2,000 acres, according to Forest Service maps and statements.
Lightning ignited the Middle Mesa Fire on Aug. 1 in a swath of the Carson National Forest about 20 miles northeast of Navajo Dam. It’s difficult to contain due to “extremely low fuel moistures” and low humidity, according to a news release.
The latest infrared map captured overnight puts the fire at roughly 2,115 acres. That’s a growth of more than 1,000 acres since Sunday. More than 140 personnel are tackling the blaze via airplane and on the ground.
It’s burning in a remote area roughly a mile from the Colorado border, but natural gas wells and pipelines sit nearby, according to the Forest Service. According to an operations map, about a dozen oil and gas wells are within the existing fire perimeter, with dozens more in the area.
“Fire managers request that the public avoid the northern reaches of the (Jicarilla) ranger district for safety of themselves and fire crews,” according to the news release. The Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office has placed private inholdings and properties in the fire’s path on “set” evacuation status.
Forecasters predict “hot, very dry and unstable conditions” this week for firefighters tackling the fire. The fire is currently 0% contained.
According to the Southwest Coordination Center, 725 wildfires have burned more than 180,000 acres in New Mexico so far this year. Naturally caused wildfires, which include lightning, are responsible for more than 150,000 acres of that.
