Beehive Fire Grows to Over 1,800 Acres

Pushed by winds and strong gusts under a Red Flag Warning, the Beehive Fire rapidly grew this afternoon, increasing to an estimated 1,864 acres with 0% containment and reaching the Lamy Peak area. 

Crews today worked in coordination with water-dropping helicopters to pick up spot fires and create anchor points to build control lines from. Six dozers have been ordered, two which are scheduled to arrive tonight, and will begin constructing control lines tomorrow.

There are no evacuations at this time, but heavy smoke has been impacting Highway 285 between Tres Piedras and the Colorado border. Fire managers are asking drivers to take caution and slow down.

With increasing complexity, Carson National Forest fire managers have ordered the Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team to manage the fire. A transition will take place over the next two days.

WEATHER FORECAST

Critical fire conditions are forecasted to return Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, which has put out a Red Flag Warning for the area between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and a Fire Weather Watch on Monday.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS TO INCREASE

Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently in effect and Stage 2 fire restrictions will begin at 8 a.m. on June 30.

BACKGROUND

The Beehive Fire was first reported at about 1 p.m. on June 26 to the north of Highway 64 in the Tusas Valley, about 15 miles west of Tres Piedras. It was first called in by the crew of a detection flight, which was ordered to survey the forest after recent lightning activity. A subsequent flight was conducted today, with no new fires detected.