Wildfire

At approximately 5:00 pm on May 11th, the Johnson Fork Fire ignited in Kimble County. Local fire departments were the first resources on scene and requested assistance from the Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS). TAMFS and the Local IC worked in unified command, Fire crews constructed containment line around the fire with heavy equipment with the support of engines. Aircraft was utilized on the fire.  Interior pockets holding heat were of concern.  With critical fire weather in the region today, the fire became active and made a run outside the containment lines on the North end of the fire at 4:26pm.  Local department returned to fire and requested support of the Texas A&M Forest Service.  Crews are on scene and working to contain the escape.  TAMFS IC and Local IC are working in unified command.  Heavy equipment is constructing line with the support of engines.  Aircraft was utilized on this fire. Update May 20th @11:30 am- Crews continue to staff the fire.  Engines are...

 At approximately 4:52 pm, a wildfire started in Dimmitt County, approximately 20 miles east of Carrizo Springs, Tx.  Local fire departments were the first resources on scene and called for assistance from the Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS). TAMFS and the Local IC are working in unified command, Fire is estimated at 100 acres in heavy brush and grass.  Access to the fire was hampered by terrain and vegetation.  Fire is currently burning in Oak timber near the Nueces River.   The fire behavior has moderated as the relative humidity begins to recover overnight, Crews constructed containment line around the fire with heavy equipment and burning out pockets of fuel with the support of engines.  Aircraft was utilized on the

Planned Projects | Current Projects | Current PhotosAs part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts, crews will conduct prescribed fire across pre-planned locations across the forest as weather and fuel conditions permit. Prescribed fire is a proactive tool used to achieve a number of purposes, including the reduction of hazardous fuels, which decreases the threat of high intensity, high-severity wildfires. It also reduces the risk of insect and disease outbreak, recycles nutrients that increase soil productivity and improves wildlife habitat. The actual days of ignition for prescribed burning will depend on several factors including appropriate humidity levels, wind speed and direction, temperature, and fuel moisture. Burns only occur on days when weather conditions exist for good smoke dispersal. Residents and visitors are asked to avoid areas where prescribed burns are being conducted. Smoke may be visible, but these fires are all...

As of 9am on Saturday, 5/15, 2022 the San Rafael is 100% contained at 11,620 acres. The fire is in patrol status at this time. All resources will be released by end of shift Sunday.  The Arizona Trail at Parker Lake to Harshaw Road remains closed until Monday afternoon, 5/16.

Cooks Peak Fire Update 5/12/2022   Fire Update:  A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 8am-9pm.  Slightly cooler temperatures and strong afternoon winds are expected with gusts up to 40 mph.  Humidity will be in the single digits.  Friday, winds will be calmer, but weather conditions will remain dry and warm.  Smoke from the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire is being pushed by strong winds toward the Cooks Peak Fire. Interior pockets of fuel will continue to burn down and smoke may be visible but the fire is not actively spreading.  Crews will patrol and mop up along existing firelines and closely watch and hold all lines as strong winds can carry hot embers across.  In addition, crews will continue suppression repair work.    Resource specialists continue to assess completed work and identify additional rehabilitation needed.  A group of incident resources will continue to support local resources with any new starts that may occur in the vicinity of the fire. There are 83...

 THREE PHASES OF WILDFIRE RECOVERY  There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands: -       Fire Suppression Repair -       Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) -       Long-Term Recovery and Restoration o   Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts. o   Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System...

Bedford, Indiana. October 22, 2021 — The U.S. Forest Service plans to conduct seasonal prescribed burning to maintain, restore or improve early successional habitat, maintain wetlands, restore and maintain unique barren ecosystems, regenerate oak and hickory tree species and improve soil health by naturally returning nutrients to the soil.  Historical data shows that throughout history natural occurring fire played a vital and necessary role in sustaining the eastern deciduous forest ecosystem. Scientific research supports the use of prescribed burning to reintroduce low intensity fire to its natural role within the ecosystem. Prescribed burning also reduces fuel loading, thereby lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire.  Approximately 4,500 - 5,000 acres are planned to receive treatment with prescribed fire in the fall of 2021 on National Forest System lands in the following counties:  Brown, Crawford, Jackson, Martin, Monroe, Lawrence, and Perry. U.S. Forest Service fire...

 The Drissom Fire started on the afternoon of May 7th, and was extremely active with the column visible from Abilene. Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) arrive on scene around 20:00 and is working in unified command with several local responders. TAMFS dozer crews are working to put in fire line with several rural structure threatened in the area. Extremely high temperatures coupled with dry fuels have contributed to the extreme fire

 At approximately 11:00 am, a wildfire had started outside of Masterson in Moore County. Dumas Fire Department were the first resources on scene and had called for mutual aid with Potter County Fire/Rescue. Texas A&M Forest Service was called and worked in unified command with Dumas Fire Department. The fire had started in the location of the abandoned helium plant and pushed west jumping Highway 87 and FM 1913. Fire crews were able to construct line around the entirety of the fire, and aircraft was heavily utilized on the left

The McBride Fire started on April 12, 2022 around 2:30 pm on Warrior Rd in Ruidoso, NM. The fire quickly spread into neighboring residential areas and continued to move northeast. There are 2 confirmed fatalities and over 200 homes have been lost. The fire is now 89% contained. All evacuations for this fire have now been lifted. Fire crews are continuing to mop-up

 See the 'Announcements' and 'News' Tabs for the latest information on planned prescribed burns.With the arrival of spring, firefighters across the Bitterroot National Forest are gearing up for their annual prescribed burning operations to reduce hazardous fuels, restore wildlife habitat, and better protect communities from future wildfires.      Underburning, a type of prescribed fire treatment, ignites vegetation under the forest canopy or in open grassy meadows and focuses on the consumption of surface fuels.  Frequent, low-intensity fire is essential in improving habitat conditions by regenerating fire-adapted vegetation and encouraging the growth of new forage and food sprouts for wildlife. “This is the time of year when we have the opportunity to be proactive and meet our forest-wide goals of reducing hazardous fuels in key areas near communities,” said David Tingley, Bitterroot National Forest Fuels Fire Management Officer.  “Over the coming weeks, we will be...

Today's update - May 2, 2022 - will be the FINAL UPDATE for the Water Fire unless there is a significant change to report.  The Water Fire was detected on April 28th at 2:30 in the afternoon. It is on the Gila National Forest and is located about 3 miles east of the Wilderness Ranger Station and 6 miles north of Mimbres, NM. The area that the fire is burning in has minimal road access, however ground forces are being staged at strategic locations as the fire slowly progresses up East Canyon. Winds out of the southwest, accompanied by hot, dry weather, and drought-stressed vegetation (heavy to moderate loads of dead, dry grass with Piñon Juniper trees scattered throughout the area). On April 28th, when the fire was detected, aerial resources were committed to the incident and have been the primary resource for reconnaissance and suppression tactics. Air tankers were utilized to help hinder the fire's growth by strategically dropping fire retardant, so that it would slow the fire's...

 The Tunnel Fire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has completed the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map and is undertaking the next stage of the BAER process—namely completing risk assessments to critical BAER values on National Forest System lands, proposing possible post-fire emergency stabilization actions, and completing the Burned Area Report.  Critical BAER values for the Tunnel Fire include the following: Human Life and Safety; Forest Service owned property such as campgrounds roads, and trails; Natural resources such as soil productivity and hydrologic function, threatened and endangered species habitat, and native plant communities; Cultural resources. Yesterday, the BAER Team completed the risk assessment matrix and developed post-fire emergency stabilization actions to mitigate identified risks that could reduce post-fire risks to the critical BAER values and began writing the BAER assessment report. In the coming days, the Tunnel BAER team will present these...

 Location: The burn units are located on the Bradford Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest. The project is within portions of Warren and Forest Counties (Appendix A-1) and encompasses three separate NEPA documents, Coalbed Run, West Branch Tionesta and Meads Mills environmental analyses (EA). The fire burn units referenced in Table 1 total 140 acres and are titled based on the respective EA that each are derived from. The individual units are completely enclosed with an eight-foot-tall, woven wire deer fence, with one or two gates to allow access at each unit.   The primary carrier of fire is broadleaf timber litter, classified as Fire behavior fuel model (FBFM 40) TL6 - Moderate Load Broadleaf Litter. Within the last decade each unit has been treated by different management methods referenced in Table 2. Stands within the fenced units consist of mature forest, largely dominated by oak associated forest types, such as mixed oak and oak hardwood. Undesirable saplings...

The Smoke Stack Lightning Fire started on May 2nd in Stonewall County approximately 4 miles Northeast of Aspermont from a lightning strike, Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) received a request for assistance around 16:00 and have been working in unified command with local responders. Do to high winds and critically dry fuel beds the fire has been showing extreme fire behavior, torching out juniper shrubs and jumping existing containment lines. Multiple structure in the area have been threatened and engine crews have been put on structure protection. Several wind shifts have occurred causing the fire to make runs in multiple directions and crews having to back off the

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests will conduct prescribed burns in multiple counties this spring. Prescribed burns improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape. Safety is the Forest Service’s top priority, and Forest fire managers will conduct prescribed burns only under appropriate weather conditions. Experienced fire managers will closely monitor local weather conditions, such as wind and humidity, and adjust the schedule as needed to ensure the safety of both crewmembers and local residents. Prior to lighting the burn, crews construct and designate firebreaks to ensure the fire does not leave the burn area. The burn will mimic historic natural fire as much as possible. Some individual trees will burn, but the fire should travel mostly across the forest floor. For thousands of years, fire shaped our forests and wildlife and our lands need fire to be healthy. Low intensity prescribed burns create open areas where a...

 This prescribed burn was successfully completed on

The Skiles 429 Fire is located northeast of Clayton along the Oklahoma border in Union County. The fire is burning in steep canyons and very rough terrain. The fire started April 29, 2022 at approximately 3:15 p.m. The cause is under investigation.Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Learn more

The Nogal Canyon Fire that started on April 12, 2022, burned 6 primary residences and 8 outbuildings. The fire was located about 12 miles west of Capitan, NM. Evacuations have now been lifted for this fire. The fire has burned 412 acres of grass, brush and trees. Firefighters continue to identify and put out hot spots on the

The Cooks Peak Fire is located north of Ocate, NM in Mora County near the Colfax County