| Blue 2 Fire Update, June 11, 2024 NM Fire Information

Identifying the source of heat and limiting it to ensure the safety of firefighters in Blue 2 Fire

Daily update: June 11, 2024

Estate:7532

Start date: May 16, 2024

Location: 13 km north of Ruidoso, White Mountain Wildlife Area

Cause: Lightning

Staff: 135

Fuels: Wood/grass/brush

Containment: 88%

Resources: 1 crew | 2 engines | 3 water tenders | 2 chews

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters were able to access the fire area north of Buck Mountain on foot and identified ash as the source of the smoke that was previously visible. Ash pits form when a fire begins to consume underground fuels. These pits pose a hazard to firefighters because they create a superheated space filled with ash, often indistinguishable from the surface. Firefighters can fall into the ash pit and suffer serious burns. For the safety of firefighters, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilots will continue to monitor the area for heat sources toward the unextinguished perimeter of the fire as direct access remains difficult. Emergency lines have been constructed to surround the unprotected area into a safer and more accessible area for firefighters to work. A grader and a mini excavator arrived to assist firefighters with repairs and chewing along the eastbound emergency line heading west toward Loma Grande. Bulldozer lines are also being repaired at Soldier Mountain by crews filling them with brush to return the constructed lines to a more natural state. Transport of excess equipment from completed fire sections will continue throughout the week. Law enforcement will be on site to enforce forest closures so firefighters can complete their work safely.

Weather: Yesterday, there was some moisture in the fire area due to nearby downpours and thunderstorms. Thunderstorms can produce dry lightning, gusty and erratic winds, rain and even small hail. Today, warming and drying conditions are forecast for the rest of the week as high pressure increases in the region. The fire is expected to have minimal smoldering in the few areas where the heat source is located within the perimeter of the fire.

Burn: Smoke from inside a fire may produce a limited amount of smoke during the day, which may impact surrounding areas that are dependent on wind. The interactive smoke map can still be found at fire.airnow.gov/

Closures: Due to ongoing firefighter operations, the Bonito Lake area remains restricted in the interest of public safety. The forest closure order will remain in effect for the White Mountain Wildlife Area.

Evacuations: All evacuation statuses have been lifted. An interactive evacuation map can be found at tinyurl.com/Blue2Evacs