June 17 – Ute Park Fire Final Update

Acres: 36,740 acres (26,387 acres on Philmont Scout Ranch)

Percent Containment: 97%

Start Date: May 31, 2018, 2:10pm

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Jurisdiction: New Mexico, State and Private Land

Fuels: grass, piñon-juniper and ponderosa pine

Origin Location: Near Highway 64 in Ute Park, NM, between Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron

Resources: 59 personnel, 2 crews, 2 engines, 22 overhead.

This will be the final information update for the Ute Park Fire. The Ute Park Fire will transition back to New Mexico State Forestry, Cimarron District Office. For additional information contact New Mexico State Forestry Cimarron District Office (575) 376-2024.

Post-fire suppression repair work is complete. Post-fire repair work within the burn area consisted of reseeding within dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts. These efforts will help minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities.

US 64 is currently open between Cimarron and Eagle Nest.  Residents and visitors driving on US 64 are urged not to stop along the highway and to travel with extreme caution due to potential debris, flash flooding, or excess water on the road.

Historically, monsoonal rain patterns begin on June 15 and continue through September 30. Residents should be prepared for possible flash flooding during this time. Residents and visitors should also be aware of possible closures of US 64 due to flash flooding. Wildfires leave the ground charred, barren, and unable to absorb water, creating ideal conditions for flash flooding. As water runs downhill through burned areas it can pick up large amounts of ash, sand, silt, rocks, and burned vegetation. The threat of rain and flash flooding may continue through the summer. Call 511 or visit http://nmroads.com/ for current road conditions.

No homes have burned on the Ute Park Fire. Values at risk include public and firefighter safety, the community of Ute Park, the Philmont Scout Ranch, the Cimarroncito and Urraca Watersheds, Cimarron Canyon State Park, private lands, economic benefits from tourism and recreation in the area, and air quality. Fourteen outbuildings burned on the Philmont Scout Ranch on May 31.

 Cimarron Canyon State Park will remain closed through at least July 8, 2018. Visit the Cimarron Canyon State Park website for current updates.

Ute Park Fire Info: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5820/ (air quality info, maps, etc.) and http://nmfireinfo.com

Colfax County Emergency Management Information: https://bit.ly/2LbNdXh

Facebook: https://facebook.com/uteparkfireinfo, Twitter:https://twitter.com/uteparkfireinfo,