Lincoln National Forest- Smokey Bear Ranger District- Lone Mountain Fire Update 5/29/2019

Incident Name – Lone Mountain Fire

The Lone Mountain Fire is burning in primarily pinon-juniper.

Jurisdiction: Lincoln National Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District

Size: 8 acres

Cause: Lightning

Date/Time Detected: May 26, 2019

Location: 6 miles north of White Oaks, NM. North of Hogback Ridge.

Lat/Long: 33.80809, -105.7386

Legal Description: T6S, R12E, SESW Sec 1

Firefighting Resources: 1 Incident Hotshot Crew, 1 Type-6 Engine

Fuel Type:  Pinon/Juniper, Grass, Ponderosa Pine.

Values at Risk: Private lands to the east

Fire Update: The Lone Mountain Fire began on May 26, 2019, and is located about 6 miles north of White Oaks near Hogback Ridge on the Smokey Bear Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest. The fire is currently estimated at 8 acres. One 20-person hotshot crew and one 3-man engine are assigned to the fire.

Pinon-juniper, limited grass, and a few ponderosa pines cover most of the area where the fire is located. The fuel type, location and weather conditions make The Lone Mountain Fire a unique and ideal candidate for a confine-and-contain fire and could allow fire managers to reduce the number of pinon/juniper trees, fuel on the ground and create the space for more grass to grow.

Today crews evaluated and prepped roads which will be used as containment lines for the fire. Fire behavior was low, and the fire spread slowly to the north and east. There is no public access to this area due to the private land surrounding it; therefore, there are no closure orders in effect right now.

Temperatures today were 70 degrees with winds around 5-12 miles per hour. Humidity levels hovered at 20 percent. Higher humidity levels and possible rain are forecasted for later this week.

Currently, smoke impacts are limited; however, smoke may become visible from Carrizozo, White Oaks, and surrounding areas. For more information on air quality and health impacts from smoke, please visit the New Mexico Department of Health website at https://nmtracking.org/fire. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority during a wildfire.

Fire Map: LoneMountainPIOFireMap_May 27 2019_NMLNF

You can expect an update each evening on the Lone Mountain Fire.

Please visit the NM Department of Health’s smoke page for information on protecting your health during fires and on smoky days. https://nmtracking.org/fire.

PIO: Laura Rabon, 575-434-7290 laura.rabon@usda.gov