Lincoln National Forest – 5/27/18 – Kellar Fire Update: 8:30pm

Incident Name – Kellar Fire

Fire Update: 5/27/2018, 8:30 pm

Jurisdiction: Lincoln National Forest, Guadalupe Ranger District

Date/Time Detected: 5/22/2018, 9:52am

Location: Northeast of Queen, NM

Lat/Long: Lat: 32°,12′,42.92″, Lon: 104°,40′,45.47″

Legal Description: T24S, R22E, SWSW Sec 14

Firefighting Resources: Type 3 Incident Management Team, 3 Hot Shot Crews, 2 Type-3 Engines, 5 Type-6 Engines, 2 Water Tenders, 1 Helicopter Module. Total Personnel: 128

Values at Risk: Community of Queen, NM, Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Forage

Hazards: Heat, Terrain

Fuels:  Pinon/Juniper, brush and grass

Size: 25 acres

Containment: 0%

Cause: Lightning

Structures Threatened: 403 (mostly in Queen, NM)

Closures: The FR 68 system and Trailhead 68 at Sitting Bull Falls.

5/27/18, 8:30 pm Status: Crews completed fire lines around the perimeter of the potential fire area in preparation for Tuesday’s ignition. The goals for the Pecos Zone Type 3 Team and the Kellar Fire are “Safety, Planning and Preparation.”

The FR 68 road system and trailhead 68, at Sitting Bull Falls, are closed to the public for the safety of both the public and firefighters while this project is ongoing. Beginning Tuesday morning, the 68 and 525 road systems as well as road 277 C will be closed for public safety during the burn. Sitting Bull Falls will to be closed at the first gate. Signs will be posted along roads to inform potential visitors.

Visitors are advised to check daily regarding the status of updated closures of roads and attractions in the area as work continues.

5/27/18, 9:30am Status: The Kellar Fire is actively burning in grass and pinon/juniper vegetation in the Guadalupe Mountains of the Lincoln National Forest near Queen, New Mexico. Fire officials are using this natural ignition to restore fire to the landscape and achieve multiple resource benefits including reducing pinon/juniper density, which will  enhance long-term forage production, increase resiliency to wildfire and provide additional fire protection to the community of Queen, NM. Crews will continue to prepare the perimeter of the fire in anticipation for ignitions on Tuesday.

Fire officials will delay heavy ignitions until Tuesday to minimize smoke at Sitting Bull Falls over Memorial Day weekend. The FR 68 system and Trailhead 68, at Sitting Bull Falls, are closed to public use for the safety of the public and firefighters. Additional closure orders are expected. Please check back for updates on the fire and closures.

Regarding smoke, in the event of a prescribed fire or wildfire: If visibility becomes lower because of smoke, please visit the NM Department of Health’s smoke page:  https://nmtracking.org/fire

PIO: Linda Wallace, 575-937-1307, nmkellarfire@gmail.com