Blue 2 Fire Update, June 10, 2024

Firefighters and Heavy Equipment work to finish the remaining areas of the Blue 2 Fire

Daily Update: June 10, 2024

Acres: 7,532                                                                                  

Start Date: May 16, 2024

Location: 8 miles North of Ruidoso, White Mountain Wilderness Area               

Cause: Lightning

Personnel: 142                                                                                          

Fuels: Timber/Grass/Brush

Containment: 87%                                                               

Resources: 1 crew | 3 engines | 1 water tender | 5 masticators

Operations: Yesterday, light smoke was visible near the southwest corner of the fire, near Buck Mountain. The smoke resulted from unburned fuels within the fire area. Firefighters will continue to monitor that throughout the day. The remaining uncontained perimeter of the fire has been difficult to access directly, but a completed contingency line has been constructed to surround it as a precaution. Repair work has been completed along previously constructed dozer lines in much of the southern segment of the fire, with a small section remaining west of Villa Madonna. Mastication progresses south of the fire permitter and northwest of Eagle Lake. In the northern segment of the fire area, mastication continues along the Eastern contingency line west of Loma Grande. Firefighters continue to repair the constructed line west of the Runnels which includes crews brushing around the mastication lines to return the constructed line to a more natural state. Backhaul of the excess equipment from the completed sections of the fire will continue throughout the week as the organization right sizes. Law enforcement will have a presence to enforce the forest closure so firefighters can safely complete their work.

Weather: Yesterday, the fire area experienced small amounts of moisture from nearby showers and storms. Storms may bring dry lightning, gusty and erratic winds, rain, and even small hail. Cooler and relatively moist conditions near the fire area have kept weather conditions moderate. The trends begin to change on Tuesday, as a warming and drying trend is forecast through the rest of the week as high pressure builds over the region.

Smoke: Interior fuel pockets inside the fire area can produce limited smoke throughout the day that may impact the surrounding areas, which are dependent on wind. The interactive smoke map can still be found at fire.airnow.gov/

Closures: In the interest of public safety, camping and other recreation activities in the Bonito Lake Area are still restricted due to ongoing firefighter activities. The Forest closure order will continue to remain in effect for the White Mountain Wilderness Area.

Evacuations: All evacuation statuses have been lifted.For an interactive evacuation map, go to tinyurl.com/Blue2Evacs