Wildfire activity increases in the Santa Fe National Forest  

Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire managers are managing wildfires in the Coyote, Jemez, and Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger Districts.  According to Richard Naden, Meteorologist for the Southwest Coordination Center (SWCC), “What is occurring recently is pretty much the summer monsoonal pattern. But it has been slightly drier the past few days with less wetting rainfall on the Santa Fe National Forest. Wetting rainfall activity should pick up dramatically by the middle to end of next week. We will still see lightning activity, but it should be coupled with that increased moisture by next week.”

SFNF fire managers use a variety of tactics when responding to wildfires. Some fires may be aggressively suppressed or put out, while others are managed using a confine and contain strategy. What drives these management decisions is always the safety of firefighters and the public.

SFNF Wildfire Updates

Coyote

• The lightning caused Banco Fire was first reported Tuesday July 9. It is located west of the Encino Lookout Tower in steep, rocky terrain. Over the last few days, Coyote fire staff have utilized natural barriers to confine the fire. Smoke jumpers have been ordered to assess the feasibility of gaining access via air and suppressing the Banco Fire. Proper weather windows are needed for smoke jumper safety. The Banco Fire is less than 1 acre (.10) burning in ponderosa pine. Smoke is visible from Highway 96 and the village of Coyote, N.M.

Jemez

• The lightning caused Alamo Springs Fire was first reported Thursday July 11. It is located west of Highway 4, north of Rincon Fishing Site. Fire crews built containment line around the less than 1 acre fire and rain was reported falling on the fire. Smoke may be visible from Highway 4.

Pecos/Las Vegas

• The Thompson Peak fire was first reported Thursday July 11. The cause is undetermined, but a resident nearby reported a lightning strike in the area followed by visible smoke. The fire is located west of State Road 63, south of Thompson Peak. The less than an acre (.10) fire is burning in steep inaccessible terrain and is being managed using a full suppression strategy. A helicopter is dropping buckets of water on the fire, using McClure Reservoir as a dip site. The fire has low spread potential, creeping and smoldering in ponderosa pine. Currently there is no risk to people or property and smoke is visible from Santa Fe, N.M. and north of Interstate 25.

To learn more about fire management visit the SFNF website, NM Fire Information, and SFNF social media pages (Facebook and X).

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Caption: Thompson Peak Wildfire in Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District