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Wind and slope push Medio Fire further south

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Publication Type: News Sat, 08/22/2020 - 12:00

Wind and slope push Medio Fire further south

Medio Fire – August 22, 2020 Daily Update

Acres: Approximately 1530 acres

Start Date: August 17, 2020

Cause: Unknown

Containment: 5%

Total personnel: 135

Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest

Fuels: Dry mixed conifer, ponderosa pine

Highlights: The Medio Fire crossed the drainage over the Rio en Medio Trail yesterday. Pushed by northern winds and steep slopes, the fire is now moving further towards the south. Crews are working on a combination of direct and indirect perimeter control, including handline construction surrounding tribal trust lands and private inholdings along Forest Road (FR) 102.

Community Meeting: The Incident Management Team hosted the first virtual community meeting yesterday evening, with over 280 participants viewing the live video. A recording of the meeting is now available at https://facebook.com/santafeNF/. No account is required to view the video. The next virtual community meeting will be held tonight at 6:00 pm on the Santa Fe National Forest’s Facebook page. We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting, or you can email us your questions in advance at 2020.medio@firenet.gov. A recording will be posted immediately following the live meeting.

Operations: Resources on scene include the Mt. Taylor Hotshots, Smokey Bear Hotshots, Silver City Hotshots, Red River Fire Chasers, two engines, a Type 3 helicopter, two National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, and a fixed-wing aircraft. As the fire headed south across the Rio en Medio drainage, crews worked to build handline along Aspen Ranch. As temperatures dropped and wind decreased, firefighters began strategic firing operations to remove excess vegetation to starve the main fire of fuel as it moves toward FR 412. Firefighters brought fire down from the Pacheco Fire scar south around tribal trust lands, connected into the handline below Aspen Ranch, and burned west toward the head of the fire. Firefighters are now looking for opportunities to limit impacts to FR 102 as the fire progresses further south.

Weather: Temperatures today will continue to be well above normal. Scattered showers and dry thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon along the high terrain, bringing the threat of gusty outflow winds.

Safety: Health and safety of firefighters and the public is the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Nambe Reservoir and the Rio en Medio (#163), Viejo (#179), Borrego (#150), Nambe (#160), and Capulin (#158) Trails on the Santa Fe National Forest.

Smoke: Smoke from the Medio Fire is likely to be visible from Santa Fe and surrounding communities as well as along the I-25 and US-285 corridors. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found at https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7031/

Santa Fe National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/

Santa Fe National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home

New Mexico Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Increased fire activity leads to visible smoke column

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Publication Type: Announcement Fri, 08/21/2020 - 12:00

Expect to see increased smoke from the Medio Fire as fire activity picks up in the Rio en Medio drainage. Visit https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF at 6:00PM tonight to ask your questions live during the Medio Fire community meeting.

Virtual Community Meeting Tonight at 600 PM

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Publication Type: Announcement Fri, 08/21/2020 - 12:00

Join fire managers for an online community meeting tonight, August 21, at 6:00 PM on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/

We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting or you can email us your questions in advance at 2020.medio@firenet.gov

You do not need a Facebook account to view the meeting. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up. A recording will be posted following the meeting.

August 21 Daily Operational Video Now Available

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Publication Type: Announcement Fri, 08/21/2020 - 12:00

You can now view the Medio Fire daily operational video on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/videos/653215125301345

SW Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 Assumes Command of Medio Fire

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Publication Type: News Fri, 08/21/2020 - 12:00

Highlights: The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4, led by Incident Commander Carl Schwope, assumed command of the Medio Fire this morning, Friday, August 21, 2020, at 6:00 AM. A Type 2 Incident Management Team brings additional resources and more robust management capabilities to manage the increasingly complex fire.

Community Meeting: The Incident Management Team will host a virtual community meeting tonight at 6:00 P.M. at https://facebook.com/santafeNF/. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. If a pop-up box appears when you first navigate to the link, you can use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down to the view and/or click “not now” to minimize the login pop-up. We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting, or you can email us your questions in advance at 2020.medio@firenet.gov.

Operations: Resources on scene include the Mt. Taylor Hotshots, Smokey Bear Hotshots, Silver City Hotshots, Red River Fire Chasers, two engines, a Type 3 helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. Crews are steering the fire eastward toward the burn scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire. The intent is to keep the fire between the Rio en Medio drainage to the south and Rio Nambe drainage to the north. Due to the remote location of the fire and the rugged terrain, the strategy will be a combination of direct and indirect perimeter control and point protection.

Weather: Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds are expected, with above normal temperatures persisting.

Safety: Health and safety of firefighters and the public is the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Rio en Medio Community Center, Nambe Reservoir, and the Rio en Medio (#163), Viejo (#179), Borrego (#150), Nambe (#160), and Capulin (#158) Trails on the Santa Fe National Forest.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7031/

Santa Fe National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santafeNF/

Santa Fe National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home

New Mexico Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Medio Fire Update

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Publication Type: News Thu, 08/20/2020 - 12:00

Type 2 Incident Management Team Takes Command Tomorrow

Size: Approximately 610 Containment: 0% Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Unknown Fire update: Firefighters made good progress yesterday, identifying an anchor point on the northwestern side of the fire which gives crews on the ground the opportunity to safely start building fire line and secure the fire’s boundary. The fixed-wing aircraft dropped retardant yesterday to slow the fire’s advance and assist ground crews with their work on the anchor point. Today crews will secure that anchor point and continue to build fire line on the west flank of the fire. The intent is to continue to steer the fire toward the burn scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire and keep it contained between the Rio Nambe and Rio en Medio. Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 will in-brief this afternoon and assume command of the Medio Fire at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Resources on scene: 76 personnel, including three interagency hotshot crews, two engines, three interagency hand crews, the Valencia County Decontamination Team, a Type 3 helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. Location: Off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 1.5 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Fuels: Dry mixed conifer tapering to ponderosa pine at lower elevations. Heavy fuels in steep, rugged terrain add complexity to efforts to control the Medio Fire. Contrary to a traditional monsoon season, fuel moistures are very low for this time of year, and other fire indices are unseasonably high. Fire behavior: Mostly moderate with isolated torching and short crown runs, exacerbated by the dry continuous fuels, terrain and winds driven by passing storm cells. Strategy: Due to the complexity of the Medio Fire and the values at risk, the SFNF requested a Type 2 Incident Management Team which will take command of the fire early Friday. The containment strategy is a combination of direct and indirect perimeter control and point protection. SFNF fire managers are coordinating with cooperators and partners, including the Nambe and Tesuque Pueblos, Santa Fe County and New Mexico State Forestry. Weather: Unseasonably hot temperatures with low afternoon humidity and scattered showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. Values at risk: Values at risk include Nambe Reservoir, tribal inholdings and traditional cultural resources, the Village of Rio en Medio, powerlines including the Jemez Electric Coop powerline, the Rio Nambe/Rio Capulin and Rio en Medio watersheds, and trails and cultural sites on the SFNF. The Medio Fire is currently not threatening any structures, and there are no evacuations in place. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Smoke from the Medio Fire is likely to be visible from Santa Fe and surrounding communities as well as along the I-25 and US 285 corridors. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Forest Stewards Guild offers a HEPA Filter Loan Program that are available on a first come/first served basis. Additional information on air filters and the HEPA loan program is posted at http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program#smokeanchor3. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Rio en Medio Community Center, Nambe Reservoir, and the Rio en Medio (#163), Viejo (#179), Borrego (#150), Nambe (#160), and Capulin (#158) Trails on the SFNF. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!” Fire managers have implemented a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to create a safety buffer for both ground and air crews. Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

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Medio Fire Update

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Publication Type: News Wed, 08/19/2020 - 12:00

Size: 550 acres Containment: 0%

Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Unknown Location: Off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 1.5 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Fuels: Dry mixed conifer tapering to ponderosa pine at lower elevations. Heavy fuels in steep, rugged terrain add complexity to efforts to control the Medio Fire. Contrary to a traditional monsoon season, fuel moistures are very low for this time of year, and other fire indices are unseasonably high. Fire behavior: Dry continuous fuels are helping push the fire southward toward the Rio en Medio drainage. Fire behavior has ranged from moderate to extreme, driven by terrain and winds. The fire is likely to continue pushing eastward toward the Pecos Wilderness and the burn scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire, which raises additional concerns due to the amount of dead and down fuels in the burn scar. Strategy: Due to the complexity of the Medio Fire and the values at risk, fire managers today ordered a Type 2 Incident Management Team which is expected to in-brief tomorrow afternoon and take command of the fire early Friday. SFNF fire managers continue to coordinate with cooperators and partners, including the Nambe and Tesuque Pueblos, Santa Fe County and New Mexico State Forestry, to develop a containment strategy for the Medio Fire. Due to the remote location of the fire and the rugged terrain, the strategy will be a combination of direct and indirect perimeter control and point protection. Air attack dropped water and retardant on the fire today to help firefighters establish anchor points and work on building the fire line. Resources on scene: A Type 3 Incident Commander and about 70 personnel are assigned to the Medio Fire. Resources on scene include the Mt. Taylor Hotshots, 4 engines, a Type 3 helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. A second hotshot crew, the Silver City Hotshots, arrived today. Weather: Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then isolated showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Higher forecasted humidities and lower temperatures should help moderate fire behavior overnight. Values at risk: Values at risk include Nambe Reservoir, tribal inholdings and traditional cultural resources, the Village of Rio en Medio, powerlines including the Jemez Electric Coop powerline, the Rio Nambe/Rio Capulin and Rio en Medio watersheds, and trails and cultural sites on the SFNF. The Medio Fire is currently not threatening any structures, and there are no evacuations in place. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Smoke from the Medio Fire is likely to be visible from Santa Fe and surrounding communities as well as along the I-25 and US 285 corridors. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Forest Stewards Guild offers a HEPA Filter Loan Program that are available on a first come/first served basis. Additional information on air filters and the HEPA loan program is posted at http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program#smokeanchor3. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Rio en Medio Community Center, Nambe Reservoir, and the Rio en Medio (#163), Viejo (#179), Borrego (#150), Nambe (#160), and Capulin (#158) Trails on the SFNF. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!” Fire managers have implemented a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to create a safety buffer for both ground and air crews. Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

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Medio Fire Update

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Publication Type: News Wed, 08/19/2020 - 12:00

Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Unknown Size: Approximately 285 acres

Location: Off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Containment: 0% Fuels and fire behavior: The Medio Fire is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer in steep, rocky terrain. Fire behavior this morning was moderate but is expected to pick up during the heat of the day. The fire is pushing eastward toward the Pecos Wilderness and the burn scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire. Strategy: SFNF fire managers are working closely with cooperators and partners, including the Nambe and Tesuque Pueblos, Santa Fe County and New Mexico State Forestry, to develop a containment strategy for the Medio Fire. Due to the remote location of the fire and the rugged terrain, the strategy will be a combination of direct and indirect perimeter control and point protection. Firefighters are scouting for anchor points and natural barriers that will help confine the fire. Resources on scene: A Type 3 Incident Commander and about 70 personnel are assigned to the Medio Fire. Resources on scene include the Mt. Taylor Hotshots, 4 engines, a Type 3 helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. A second hotshot crew, the Silver City Hotshots, arrived today. Weather: Partly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely this afternoon. Temperatures remain above average, and humidity is in the 14-19% range. Winds of 5-10 mph will be coming out of the north this afternoon. Values at risk: Values at risk include Nambe Reservoir, tribal inholdings and traditional cultural resources, the Village of Rio en Medio, powerlines including the Jemez Electric Coop powerline, the Rio Nambe/Rio Capulin and Rio en Medio watersheds, and trails and cultural sites on the SFNF. The Medio Fire is currently not threatening any structures, and there are no evacuations in place. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Smoke from the Medio Fire is likely to be visible from Santa Fe and surrounding communities as well as along the I-25 and US 285 corridors. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Forest Stewards Guild offers a HEPA Filter Loan Program that are available on a first come/first served basis. Additional information on air filters and the HEPA loan program is posted at http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program#smokeanchor3. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Rio en Medio Community Center, Nambe Reservoir, and the Rio en Medio (#163), Viejo (#179), Borrego (#150), Nambe (#160), and Capulin (#158) Trails on the SFNF. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!” Fire managers have implemented a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to create a safety buffer for both ground and air crews. Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

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Medio Fire Update

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Publication Type: News Tue, 08/18/2020 - 12:00

Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Unknown Size: 150+ acres

Location: Off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Containment: 0% Fuels and fire behavior: The Medio Fire is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer in steep, rocky terrain. Fire behavior ranged from moderate to extreme today. A storm cell that moved into the area helped push the fire uphill, but scattered showers and higher relative humidity moderated the growth once the fire reached the ridgetop. The Medio Fire is moving eastward toward the Pecos Wilderness and is likely to hit the burn scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire. Weather: Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms this evening and winds out of the south at 5-15 mph shifting to 10-20 mph winds out of the west after midnight. Resources on scene: The Mt. Taylor Interagency Hotshots are joining firefighters from the Española Ranger District, Northern Pueblos Agency and Tesuque Pueblo. A Type 3 helicopter is available for aerial suppression. A Type 3 incident commander is en route. Values at risk: The Medio Fire is within a few miles of Nambe and Tesuque Pueblos as well as small communities in the area, including Chupadero and Rio en Medio, but is moving eastward away from the values at risk. The Medio Fire is not threatening any structures, and there are no evacuations in place. Immediate values at risk include the Rio en Medio, Borrego, Aspen Basin and Aspen Ranch trails. Strategy: The strategy for the Medio Fire is full suppression. The helicopter was able to start bucket drops this afternoon before it was grounded because of lightning in the area. Fire managers are developing a containment strategy based on the remote location of the fire and the difficulty of the terrain. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Smoke is very visible within a 50-mile radius of the Medio Fire. Smoke is likely to settle into lower elevations and drainages overnight across the same area. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Forest Stewards Guild offers a HEPA Filter Loan Program that are available on a first come/first served basis. Additional information on air filters and the HEPA loan program is posted at http://www.santafefireshed.org/hepa-filter-loan-program#smokeanchor3. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Rio en Medio Community Center, Rio en Medio Trailhead and Nambe Reservoir. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!” Fire managers have implemented a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to create a safety buffer for both ground and air crews. Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

New Fire Start on SFNF Medio Fire

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Publication Type: News Tue, 08/18/2020 - 12:00

New Fire Start on SFNF: Medio Fire

Public should avoid Rio en Medio Trailhead, Nambe Reservoir

Start date: Aug. 17, 2020 Cause: Unknown Size: 5+ acres Location: Off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest, approximately 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Containment: 0% Fuels and fire behavior: The Medio Fire is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer in steep, rocky terrain. The fire is exhibiting active fire behavior with isolated torching. Weather: Above normal temperatures with humidities in the teens, partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. Winds are out of the northwest at 5-15 mph. Resources on scene: Firefighters from the Española Ranger District, Northern Pueblos Agency and Tesuque Pueblo are on scene with additional resources en route, including a Type 3 helicopter for aerial suppression and a Type 1 hotshot crew. Values at risk: The Medio Fire is within a few miles of Nambe and Tesuque Pueblos as well as small communities in the area, including Chupadero and Rio en Medio. There are currently no structures at risk. Strategy: The strategy for the Medio Fire is full suppression. Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Members of the public should stay away from fire operations and staging areas, including the Rio en Medio Trailhead and Nambe Reservoir. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that “If you fly, we can’t!” Smoke is likely to be visible within a 50-mile radius of the Medio Fire. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

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