As hot and dry weather persists, Carson National Forest fire crews are patrolling and monitoring two fires daily. The Comanche Fire and Dorado/Cañada del Agua Prescribed Fire currently have minimal fire behavior, with flames smoldering and creeping within interior pockets of unburned fuel.   “We will consider next steps once each burn area receives significant […]

Upcoming Actions: There is minimal fire activity today with some creeping and smoldering. Crews are working to mop up the western edge, cooling any hotspots. Suppression repair and rehabilitation continues as crews work to reduce erosion, reseed where needed, fix fences and close dozer lines. With fire activity decreasing, management of the fire will be […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews are working with resource advisers to rehabilitate areas affected by fire management activity. Crews are focused on suppression repair work, including reseeding, fixing fences, installing erosion control features and closing dozer lines. Fire activity has reduced significantly, and crews continue to patrol by gridding for hotspots and cooling them for further […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire activity on the eastern flank of the fire has reduced significantly. Crews patrol the fire, gridding for hotspots and cooling them to further control the fire. Most of the fire activity remains on the western flank where crews are working through rugged and steep terrain to strengthen control lines. Crew members are working […]

Upcoming Actions: Red flag conditions, with very dry and breezy to windy conditions, are forecasted today. Fire crews continue to hold and patrol the fire line, gridding for potential spot fires. Suppression tactics have reduced fire activity, and crews will continue to improve containment lines, working in steep and rugged terrain. Suppression activities are concentrated on […]

Upcoming Actions: Every fire receives a strategic, risk-based response, and as conditions change, so do management actions. With weather over the next few days forecasted to be less than favorable for the Comanche Fire to fulfill its ecological role, fire managers have decided to limit further growth and take suppression actions. On Saturday, air tankers and […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews worked hard to successfully hold the Comanche Fire within its containment lines on Friday despite Red Flag conditions. This was possible due to the extensive planning and tactics implemented during the previous days. Increased smoke was due to interior burning. Fire managers continue to assess and plan for various scenarios in […]

Upcoming Actions: Yesterday’s operations were successful as fire crews continued to create depth in the containment lines on the east perimeter of the Comanche Fire focus area. With information from a meteorologist and other specialists, fire managers are halting firing operations today due to Red Flag conditions and forecasted west winds. Crews will focus on […]

Expected break in winds not developing  Despite favorable vegetation and fuels conditions, fire managers have decided to postpone the planned collaborative prescribed fire across the New Mexico-Colorado border. Fire personnel have determined that an anticipated break in the windy weather pattern is not going to develop in time to meet project objectives. Forecast windspeeds will […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews will continue hand ignitions along the perimeter edge, continuing work from yesterday where the northwest and eastern perimeters were blacklined. These actions help create depth on the containment line to keep the fire within the focus area. A meteorologist and other specialists are assigned to the incident to directly advising incident […]

Upcoming Actions: Tuesday’s firing operations were successful. Fire crews began blacklining and will continue to strengthen the containment line along the focus area the next few days, with the possibility of helicopter aerial ignitions on Wed. or Thu. Fire managers continue to work closely with the meteorologist and specialists to assess conditions daily to ensure […]

Upcoming Actions: After assessing conditions, fire managers will proceed with firing operations. Today’s plan is to slowly bring fire along the containment perimeter to create a black line. Limited aerial firing to create depth on the lines will be conducted with an UAS, also known as a drone, which is equipped with a similar firing device […]

Ignitions will begin only if conditions remain favorable to meet objectives Conditions are becoming favorable to begin ignitions on the previously announced Bighorn/Stateline Project at the New Mexico-Colorado state border near U.S. Route 285. Weather and conditions permitting, crews will begin burning on or around Sat., Jun. 24. This 700- to 900-acre prescribed fire in […]

Upcoming Actions: Firing operations have been postponed again due to forecasted winds. However, fire managers, specialists and the meteorologist assisting with the Comanche Fire, will continuously assess the conditions of the focus area to determine if firing operations can begin Tue. Once conditions are advantageous for optimal fire behavior, ignitions can begin. This naturally caused […]

Ignitions on the Dorado/Cañada del Agua Prescribed Fire have been completed. 3,000 acres were treated in the project with low intensity burning across the forest floor that consumed dead and down surface fuels, like grasses and shrubs. Fire crews will be patrolling the area to watch for any heat near the perimeter. There will be residual smoldering, […]

Upcoming Actions: Fire crews will hold off firing operations to strengthen containment lines until Tuesday due to forecasted winds Monday. Fire managers and specialists, including a meteorologist, are closely monitoring weather and fuels for optimal conditions to commence ignitions on the naturally caused fire. The fire is staffed with over 150 people from federal, state and […]

Ignitions Complete; Monitor and Mop Up Continues   Yesterday, ignitions were completed on the Dorado/Cañada del Agua Prescribed Fire. Fire crews used hand ignitions to clean up pockets of surface fuels on the interior and to secure blackline. Afternoon wind gusts were experienced across the prescribed fire area but there was no threat to the […]

Upcoming Actions: All containment lines and features around the Comanche Fire focus area are nearing completion. Firing operations may be starting as early as Sunday. Fire managers are using multiple ignition techniques such as hand ignition by fire crews, helicopter operations for aerial firing and an uncrewed aerial system, popularly known as a drone, used […]

Actions: Over the next few days, fire crews will establish containment lines around the lightning-caused Comanche Fire and make provisions for possible firing operations later in the week. The fire is in Comanche Canyon near the communities of El Rito and Abiquiu. The focus area is approximately 10,000 acres. As the progression of the fire […]

Yesterday, fire crews on the Dorado/Cañada del Agua Prescribed Fire successfully established blackline around the perimeter of the prescribed fire area. Blackline is a line secured with low intensity burning to remove fuels. Today, ignitions on the remaining interior acreage, about 300 acres, will be completed as long as weather and fire behavior conditions remain favorable. A […]