June 25, 2020 
Magdalena, NM – For Immediate Release – The lightning-caused Vics Peak Fire, burning on the Magdalena Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest since June 15, has grown to an estimated 6,912 acres, with 158 personnel assigned.
The containment line south of the fire along Forest Road 225 continues to hold. Today, firefighters will work to construct a new containment line north of the fire perimeter utilizing roads in Red Canyon. Forest Roads 478 (West Red Canyon) and 331 (East Red Canyon) currently do not meet. Crews will connect them to establish a northern containment boundary for the fire outside the Wilderness area. Aerial ignitions are possible today, but dependent on fire behavior and weather conditions.
The District has seen mostly dry thunderstorm (i.e., lightning) activity the last two days. Today, air operations will conduct reconnaissance flights to monitor the fire area as well as the rest of the Magdalena Ranger District for new fires.
Weather: Today will be mostly sunny in the morning, then partly cloudy with isolated dry thunderstorms in the afternoon. Over the fire, chance of precipitation will increase to 20% in the afternoon, temperatures will reach ~83°F, and humidity is expected around 12-17%. Winds will be less than 5 mph in the morning, becoming SW 6-12 mph by late afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds are expected near thunderstorms later today.
Safety: Safety of the public and firefighters is always the top priority in wildland fire operations. Vics Peak Fire operations include best management practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within firefighter crews/operations and within the general public.The public is reminded to avoid the use of unmanned aerial systems (drones) near wildfires (https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/uas/if-you-fly). Know Before You Fly!
Smoke: Smoke over the fire area has been moderate and will continue to be visible from I-25, NM-1, and NM-107. The Forest Service will coordinate with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the New Mexico Environment Department and Department of Health to issue any needed alerts. Additional information can be found at http://nmtracking.org/fire.
Closures: A 5-mile temporary flight restriction remains in place over the fire. Forest Road 225, Springtime Campground, Luna Park Campground, and the following trails leading into Apache Kid Wilderness are currently closed to the public: Apache Kid, Teepe Peak, Cowboy, Smith, Drift Fence, Milo, Nave, Coffee Pot, Post, Cold Spring, Maverick, San Mateo, Skeleton Ridge, Indian Creek, and Shipman.
Vics Peak Fire Information: 505-933-5682, 2020.vicspeak@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6788/
New Mexico Fire Information: www.nmfireinfo.com
Facebook: Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (@cibolanf) https://www.facebook.com/cibolanf/
Twitter: Cibola NF&Grasslands; (@Cibola_NF) https://twitter.com/cibola_nf?lang=en
Location: San Mateo Mountains
Date Reported: 6/15/2020
Cause: Lightning
Size: 6,912 acres
Percent Contained: 5%
Fuel: Mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, pinyon/juniper, mahogany
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NM Fire Info 
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