Lumberton fire update May 19: Fire at zero containment due to spotting in red flag conditions

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2020/05/IMG_2243-768x1024.jpeg Photo courtesy Clayton Leonard

Updated information as of 1 p.m., May 19: 

434 + approximately 5-6 acres slop-over and spots on 5/18/20.

Percent contained: 0 percent due to multiple spots outside of the line and forecasted critical fire weather for today and tomorrow.

Resources are back on the fire as Type 4 incident. Helicopter continues bucket work on inaccessible slopes as long as wind conditions allow. Red flag conditions exist and crews are re-enforcing lines and monitoring for any additional fire activity near the line.

Temperature: 75

Relative humidity: 16 percent

Wind speeds: 12 mph

Wind direction: s

Condition of fire: minimal, backing, smoldering

Number of Engines: 3

Number of hand crews: 2

Number of helicopters: 1

Number of water tenders:​ 1

Updated information as of 5:37 p.m., May 18: 

Significant changes have occurred. Fire activity has picked up due to high winds and hot temperatures. Group torching is present near a structure and additional smokes are visible on the mountain. Type 2 helicopter and air attack have been ordered. Jicarrilla BIA FMO is on scene with ENG 12

Contained: 95 percent

Target containment: 8 p.m. May 17, 2020

Number of engines: 2

Temperature: 77 degrees

Relative humidity: 11 percent

Wind speeds: 19 mph with gusts to 30

Wind direction: geographic, and erratic wsw

Number of engines: 2 Eng-12 & Jicarilla ENG

Number of helicopters: 1

Updated information as of 8 p.m., May 15: 

According to the 8 p.m. update, fire activity is minimal. Fire is in patrol status. The fire will transition back to the Chama District tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.

Contained: 95 percent

Target containment: 8 p.m. May 17, 2020

Number of engines: 2

Updated information as of 7 p.m., May 14: 

Acres burned: 434

Ownership(s): Private, within one-quarter mile of Jicarilla Apache Tribal Lands

Structures threatened: 6 residences

Structures burned: 1 minor structure

Evacuations: 2 households were evacuated, the evacuation order was lifted at noon Wednesday.

Cause of fire: Under investigation

Area vegetation: Ponderosa pine and brush

Incident commander: ​Jamie Long

Condition of fire: Minimal, backing, smoldering

Contained: 75 percent

Target containment: 6 p.m. May 16, 2020

According to the 7 p.m. update, fire activity is minimal and the fire is looking good. A mock Covid-19 positive evacuation drill was conducted this morning and an after action review will be discussed this evening. Many crews and engines and other resources were demobilized throughout the day.

Number of engines: 4

Number of hand crews: 2

Updated information as of 9 a.m., May 12: 

Acres burned: 437

Ownership(s): Private, within one-quarter mile of Jicarilla Apache Tribal Lands

Structures threatened: 6 residences

Evacuations: 2 households have been evacuated

Cause of fire: Under investigation

Area vegetation: Ponderosa pine and brush

Incident commander: ​Jamie Long

Contained: 30 percent

Target containment: 1800 May 16, 2020

According to the 9 a.m. update, sporadic rains were received on the fire throughout yesterday, and little smoke is showing this morning. There was no fire growth yesterday on the perimeter. Crews are improving the line which is a combination of cold trail (area burned that has no active fire on the edge), handline, and dozer line- in anticipation of drier, windier weather over the next few days.

Number of engines: 5

Number of bulldozers: 1

Number of hand crews: 4

Number of water tenders:​ 2

Updated information as of 6 p.m., May 11: 

Acres burned: 437

Ownership(s): Private, within one-quarter mile of Jicarilla Apache Tribal Lands

Structures threatened: 6 residences

Evacuations: 2 households have been evacuated

According to the 6 p.m. update, firefighters worked today to stop the rate of spread where possible, and scouted the fire’s perimeter to develop a plan on how to keep the fire as small as possible.

The fire received 0.1 inch of rain, and with the increase in relative humidity, fire behavior was greatly moderated.

Fire managers are implementing new guidelines to separate firefighters and reduce opportunities for the spread of COVID-19.

Percent contained: 5 percent

Condition of fire: Today - active, running, backing, single tree torching

Number of engines: 5

Number of bulldozers: 1

Number of hand crews: 4

Number of water tenders:​ 2

2020/05/FullSizeRender-2.jpeg Photo courtesy Clayton Leonard

Updated information as of 8:30 a.m., May 11: 

The Lumberton fire has grown to more than 350 acres and has been transferred to Jamie Long, incident commander of the Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team.

The fire is currently getting some rain and exhibiting minimal fire behavior. Relative humidity is 82, with wind speeds of  0-2 mph.

The fire perimeter is still one-quarter mile from Jicarilla Reservation. This morning, crews are scouting potential containment lines.

Four residences and many outbuildings are threatened. One structure has burned, which was an outhouse. Two households have been evacuated.

Contained: 0 percent

Number of engines: 3

Number of hand crews: 2 on scene, 2 ordered

Number of water tenders:​ 2 ordered

Updated information as of 11 p.m., May 10: 

According to a fire update from Mary Stuever with the Chama Forestry District Office, mapping of the Lumberton fire by by multi mission aircraft (MMA) shows the fire at 314 acres and growing in ponderosa pine and brush on private land.

As of Sunday night, the fire was burning within one-quarter mile of Jicarilla Apache Tribal Lands, and was expected "to be there tonight."

No structures have burned. Four structures are threatened and two households have been evacuated.

"Eight spot fires have crossed the county road. Crews have conducted a burnout to try to secure lines and are currently holding that. Winds are erratic and strong," reads the report. "Fire behavior is still active including group torching. Type 3 Incident Management Team has arrived and will take over the fire in the morning."

Contained: 0 percent

Number of engines: 3

Number of hand crews: 2 on scene, 2 ordered

Number of air tankers: Air activity shut down at sunset

Number of water tenders:​ 2 ordered

Previous update as of 6 p.m., May 10:

Over 100 acres have burned and evacuations have commenced for the Lumberton Fire, which started at 11:45 a.m., according to a fire update from Mary Stuever with the Chama Forestry District Office.

The fire is burning south of New Mexico Highway 64 between U.S. 84 and Lumberton, N.M. on County Road 352.

No structures have burned; however, four structures are currently threatened by the fire, which is burning in ponderosa pine and brush.

According to the the 6 p.m. fire update, "evacuation has commenced for the SW canyon area." The Rio Arriba Fire Marshal is on scene and coordinating evacuations.

The fire had been held at a rock bluff, but with torching, it escaped the natural barrier. There are two significant spots on the opposite side of County Road 352, which was a holding line for the fire.

Engines are doing point protection at residences. Air attack reports that multiple air drops are being effective.

The fire is burning on private land, moving toward Jicarilla Apache Tribal Lands.

According to the fire update, the fire escaped from a land owner who was burning debris.

An air tanker and type 1 hand crew and type 3 incident management team are en route to the fire.

Multiple air tankers are making drops with zero containment as of 6 p.m.