SANTA FE, NM – Sept. 2, 2020 – A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team plans to begin assessing post-fire conditions on the Medio Fire as early as Thursday. With a primary focus on human life and safety, the BAER Team will analyze the fire’s impact, determine any values at immediate risk and […]
Continue readingMedio Fire activity winding down
Medio Fire – September 2, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 3,721 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Containment: 59% Total personnel: 209 Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Fuels: Dry mixed conifer, ponderosa pine Highlights: As a result of successful […]
Continue readingFINAL – East Well Fire 80% Contained – Socorro County – September 1, 2020
The East Well Fire located on state land near Claunch, NM in Socorro County is now 80% contained and remains estimated at 634 acres. Firefighters will continue to secure fire lines and mop-up hot spots. Fire activity is minimal with little to no smoke showing from the interior. Full containment is projected for Friday, September […]
Continue readingSuccessful burnout operations secure western fire edge
Medio Fire – September 1, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 3,681 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Containment: 59% Total personnel: 242 Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Fuels: Dry mixed conifer, ponderosa pine Highlights: Crews worked into the night to successfully complete burnout operations on the western […]
Continue readingEast Well Fire 73% Contained – Socorro County – 08/31/20
The East Well Fire located on state land near Claunch, NM in Socorro County is estimated at 634 acres and 73% contained. No structures are threatened. Firefighters will continue to monitor and mop-up hot spots. Due to successful fire operations, additional resources will be demobilized over the next few days. Fire behavior is minimal with […]
Continue readingSmoke may increase as burnouts resume
Medio Fire – August 31, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 3,453 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Containment: 55% Total personnel: 255 Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe […]
Continue readingCaja Fire Update Aug. 29, 2020: 100% Contained
This will be the final update on the Caja Fire unless conditions change. Start date: Aug. 23, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 158 acres Location: Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau, the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Containment: 100% Current status: Now that the Caja Fire is 100% […]
Continue readingRains bring shift in firefighting strategy
Medio Fire – August 29, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 3,422 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Containment: 54% Total personnel: 283 Location: Rio en Medio Trail, […]
Continue readingEast Well Fire 50% Contained – Socorro County – 08/28/20
The East Well Fire located on state land near Claunch, NM in Socorro County is now 50% contained and remains estimated at 634 acres. No structures are threatened. Firefighters have been successful in holding all containment lines and continue to mop-up hot spots. Approximately 80 personnel are working to fully contain the fire. Smoke may continue to be […]
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Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 reminds the public “If You Fly, We Can’t”
August 28, 2020 – The Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 urges individuals and organizations that fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), often referred to as “drones,” to stay away from the Medio Fire area to ensure the safety of firefighters and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. The Medio Fire is located approximately […]
Continue readingCaja Fire Update Aug. 27, 2020: 85% Contained
Start date: Aug. 23, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 158 acres Location: Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau, the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Containment: 85% Fuels and fire behavior: Fire behavior today is minimal with some creeping and smoldering. Strategy: As part of the full suppression strategy for […]
Continue readingIncoming weather tests firefighting efforts
Medio Fire – August 28, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 3,166 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Containment: 37% Total personnel: 260 Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, […]
Continue readingEast Well Fire – Socorro County – 08/27/20
The East Well Fire located on state land near Claunch, NM in Socorro County is now 40% contained and estimated at 634 acres with new GPS mapping. No structures are threatened. The fire is smoldering and creeping with occasional tree torching within the interior. Firefighters continue to mop-up hot spots and secure containment lines. Smoke […]
Continue readingCaja Fire Update Aug. 27, 2020: 70% Contained
Start date: Aug. 23, 2020 Cause: Lightning Size: 158 acres. Location: Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau, the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Containment: 70% Fuels and fire behavior: Fire behavior today is low with very little visible smoke. Strategy: The strategy for the Caja Fire is […]
Continue readingInvestigation reveals Medio Fire started by lightning
Medio Fire – August 27, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 2,939 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Lightning Containment: 21% Total personnel: 263 Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest Fuels: Dry mixed […]
Continue readingEast Well Fire – Socorro County – 08/26/20
The East Well Fire located on state land near Claunch, NM in Socorro County is now 25% contained and remains estimated at 701 acres. No structures are threatened. Firefighters are making good progress on securing 7 miles of fire line by hand and using heavy equipment where needed. Areas of unburned fuels within the interior […]
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Caja Fire Update Aug. 26, 2020
Perimeter Mapping Gives Firefighters New Data,Reduces Caja Fire Footprint to 158 Acres, 50% Contained Start date: Aug. 23, 2020 Cause: Presumed to be lightning Size: 158 acres. Earlier estimates were based on aerial observation during heavy smoke and active fire behavior. Location: Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau, the Española Ranger District […]
Continue readingFire crews make progress along southwestern flank
Medio Fire – August 26, 2020 Daily Update Acres: 2,845 acres Start Date: August 17, 2020 Cause: Unknown Containment: 21% Total personnel: 254 Location: […]
Continue readingEast Well Fire – Socorro County – 08/25/20
The East Well Fire located on state land near Claunch, NM in Socorro County is currently holding at an estimated 701 acres. No structures are threatened. Light to moderate rain fell over the fire area yesterday (08/24) allowing firefighters to safely engage and secure additional containment lines. Today, crews will concentrate on the east flank […]
Continue readingCaja Fire Update Aug. 25, 2020
Start date: Aug. 23, 2020 Cause: Presumed to be lightning Size: Approximately 600 acres Location: Colorado Peak on the Caja del Rio Plateau, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) Containment: 10% Fuels and fire behavior: Fire behavior today is low to moderate with limited single-tree torching in the fire’s interior. Fire managers on […]
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September 2, 2020 


