June 8, 2018 
Incident Name – Soldier Canyon Fire
Jurisdiction: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mescalero Apache
Date/Time Detected: 6/7/2018 3:00 pm
Location: Soldier Canyon. North of the town of Mescalero
Lat/Long: Lat: 33°, 10′, 16.83″, Lon: 105°, 46′, 8.39″
Legal Description: T13S, R12E, NESW Sec 22
Firefighting Resources: Type 3 Incident Management Team, VFD, Forest Service and BLM resources.
2 single engine air tankers, 3 large tankers, 1 very large air tanker.
Fuel Type: Ponderosa Pine, Mixed Conifer
Size: 2554+ Acres
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under investigation
Values at Risk: Multiple structures, Hwy 70.
Status: The Soldier Canyon Fire is burning on BIA, Mescalero Apache north of the town of Mescalero, NM. The fire is 2554 acres and is burning in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer fuels. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will arrive tomorrow. There is a mandatory evacuation in place for Blank Canyon, White Mountain subdivision, Windy Point and Shadow Ridge. The evacuation site is Mescalero Community Center. Highway 70 will remain open for the time being.
Mescalero Tribal Offices are closed tomorrow Friday, June 8, 2018.
Firefighters and aircraft are working to suppress the fire. There is a large column of smoke visible from Alamogordo, Carrizozo and Ruidoso. Additional resources, including 7 hot shot crews have been ordered and are in route to the fire.
Please stay clear of the area and aware of emergency vehicles
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: Laura Rabon, 505-681-2837, laurarabon@fs.fed.us
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