Lincoln National Forest, Pepper Springs Fire Update June 28, 2018

The Pepper Springs Fire is burning on the Sacramento Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest. It is burning in the fire scar from the 2000 Scott Able Fire, approximately 6 1/2 miles southwest of the community of Sacramento.

The fire was caused by lightning on June 26, 2018. It is burning at a very low intensity, creeping along the ground and consuming dead and down logs and debris. There was rain on the fire area today and there is a strong possibility of wetting rains over the next few days. These moderate conditions support fire behavior that is beneficial to wildlife, cattle, native grasses and forest health while cleaning up dead and down debris.

The old fire scar is a dangerous area for firefighters to work directly on the fire’s edge due to multiple weakened, standing dead snag trees and an excess of downed trees making foot travel slow and difficult. Firefighter and public safety is the primary objective on this and all wildfires. Fire managers are utilizing roads and natural barriers to keep the fire within the Scott Able burn.

There are currently 35 firefighters on the ground at the Pepper Spring Fire. This includes three engines, and one Interagency Hotshot Crew.

The current fire size is reported at 51 acres. Firefighters are igniting unburned fuels between the fire’s edge and a safe control line on Forest Road 437 in order to strengthen it as a barrier to fire spreading to the north towards the Camp Wehinahpay Boy Scout Camp. By burning potential fuel between the fire’s edge and the road, firefighters are eliminating the potential of catastrophic wildfire reaching the camp from future incidents under more hostile conditions.

Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Jurisdiction: Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest

Date/Time Detected: June 26, 2018, 4:00 pm

Location: Pepper Canyon, ½ mile south of Camp Wehinahpay

Lat/Long: 32 45.142, -105 41.095

Firefighting Resources:  3 engines, 1 Hotshot Crew

Values at Risk: None

Fuel Type:  Brush and dead standing trees

Size: 51 acres

Cause: Lightning

Contact: PIO Bill Morse, (928)699-4497 frcapt10@gmail.com