Latest news with #ForestryDivision
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Authorities seeking wildfire equipment stolen from New Mexico Forestry Division
Jun. 27—New Mexico State Police is asking for the public's help in recovering wildfire equipment worth $180,000 that was stolen earlier this month from the state Forestry Division. The thefts occurred as several wildfires burned thousands of acres in the southern part of the state. "The loss of this equipment absolutely made things worse for firefighters and responders on incidents this week and the week before," said George Ducker, spokesman for the division. "We spent a lot of time sourcing, purchasing and building the equipment ourselves." The stolen equipment includes two white utility box trailers, a red Kubota tractor, a black open utility trailer and a Camp-In-A-Box, which contains necessary equipment for setting up overnight camps during wildland fires, the department said. State Police said the thefts occurred on June 7 and 8, when security footage captured a Black Chevrolet Tahoe accessing the Forest Division depot on Richards Avenue in Santa Fe on three separate occasions. The facility's gates were locked and no personnel were on site at the time. The Forestry Division has been working with State Police to recover the equipment, but the division has no leads at this time. In the past month, New Mexico has experienced multiple wildfires, including two that torched over 100,000 acres in and around the Gila National Forest and the Desert Willow Complex Fire that burned 10 homes and injured several firefighters in Los Lunas. Of the items stolen, the Camp-In-A-Box, would have been the most helpful to have during the wildfires, Ducker said, and "certainly would have been used in the last week." "I don't know what goes through the minds of folks who want to steal this kind of equipment," Ducker said. "Whoever did this clearly doesn't care about who they impact, and they don't care about the downstream effects of something like this." State Police spokesperson Amanda Richards said that while the investigation is ongoing, authorities are asking the public to provide any information that could help. "Investigations are complex and they take time... but at this point it doesn't hurt to ask the public for their help," Richards said. Anyone with information regarding the theft is encouraged to contact State Police officer Edward Quintana at 505-425-6771.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Camp Fire remains at 877 acres, now 76% contained
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Camp Fire burning near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico, remains at 877 acres with an increase in containment of 76 percent, fire officials said on Thursday, May 29, in a news release. Camp Fire in Lincoln County now 70% contained The brush fire ignited on Sunday, May 25, but the cause has not been determined. Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso. The New Mexico State Forestry Division said that command of the fire, which started on Sunday, will transfer from the Pecos Zone Type-3 Incident Command Team to the Bureau of Land Management on Friday, May 30. On Thursday, it rained in the fire area, which is helping to extinguish any remaining hot spots, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said containment continues to increase, and firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the area for several more days. The following list shows closed and reopened areas near the fire, according to the Forestry Division: Open Highway 220 Fort Stanton Cave Campground The Fort Stanton Historical Site Rob Jaggers Campground Closed West Mesa Road, Red Tank Road and associate dispersed camping areas The surrounding BLM land will remain closed as crews continue their work in the area Closed Trails Fort Stanton North Trail Fort Stanton South Trail Deer Valley Trail Kit Carson Loop Rio Bonito Trail Pershing Trail Mustang Trail Antelope Gap Trail Elk Meadow Trail Skyline Trail Capitan Overlook Trail Buffalo Soldier Trail Open Trails Trails on the east side of Highway 220 are open. This includes: Homestead Trail and Trail Access Loop East Mesa Trail Cave Canyon Trail East Well Trail Zamora Trail Cedar Crest Trail Lincoln Trail In addition, BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County, and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads, and outdoor welding are all prohibited, the Forestry Division said. For more fire restrictions information visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Camp Fire in Lincoln County now 70% contained
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Fire crews continue efforts to battle a brush fire burning near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico, which is now at 877 acres with 70 percent containment, the New Mexico State Forestry Division announced on Wednesday, May 28. The Camp Fire ignited on Sunday, May 25, but the cause has not been determined. Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso. The Forestry Division said containment continues to increase as crews make progress on securing the fire line. The fire has not spread for several days. However, after more accurate GIS mapping the total burned acres is now 877, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said crews continue to identify and put out areas of the fire that are smoldering. Fort Stanton Historical Site personnel have begun assessments of the damaged areas. Two wooden buildings in the internment camp area of the site were completely burned, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said a third building, a gymnasium built in the 1940s, was also affected. The roof of the gymnasium, which had collapsed previously in the 1990s, was consumed by the fire. However, the walls, which are made of adobe and concrete, are still standing. The fire did not affect the main grounds of the site. The following list shows closed and reopened areas near the fire, according to the Forestry Division: Open: Highway 220- Use caution in the Fort Stanton area as firefighters are still working in the area. Fort Stanton Cave Campground Opening Thursday, May 29: The Fort Stanton Historical Site Rob Jaggers Campground Closed: West Mesa Road, Red Tank Road and associate dispersed camping areas The surrounding BLM land will remain closed as crews continue their work in the area Closed Trails: Fort Stanton North Trail Fort Stanton South Trail Deer Valley Trail Kit Carson Loop Rio Bonito Trail Pershing Trail Mustang Trail Antelope Gap Trail Elk Meadow Trail Skyline Trail Capitan Overlook Trail Buffalo Soldier Trail Open Trails: Trails on the east side of Highway 220 are open, including: Homestead Trail and Trail Access Loop East Mesa Trail Cave Canyon Trail East Well Trail Zamora Trail Cedar Crest Trail Lincoln Trail The BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County, and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads, and outdoor welding are all prohibited. Fire restrictions information: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Camp Fire in Lincoln County remains at 720 acres overnight
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Camp Fire remained at 720 acres overnight and is still 4 percent contained, the New Mexico Forestry Division said in an update issued on Tuesday, May 27. The fire started on Sunday and is burning near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. About 150 fire personnel are on scene fighting the fire, the Forestry Division said. 'Today fire crews will continue to secure the perimeter of the fire by removing burning material near the control lines to reduce the chance of it escaping control lines and reigniting. GIS mapping of the burned area is ongoing. Crews will be especially focused on the south side of the fire,' the Forestry Division said. Helicopters will continue to drop water on hotspots. Smoke will remain visible in the area. The area affected by the fire is a specially managed area by the Bureau of Land Management and the State of New Mexico. Fort Stanton, established in 1855, is one of the most intact 19th-century military forts in the country and is the best-preserved fort in New Mexico, the Forest Division said. Three historic structures at the fort, however, have been damaged in the fire, as was another are expected to reach 75 degrees Tuesday with 12 mph winds. There is a chance ofthunderstorms in afternoon which may bring rain but also lightning, the Forestry Division said. Fort Stanton is closed to the public. Rob Jaggers Campground, and the Rio Bonito andWest Mesa Road dispersed camping areas are also closed. Highway 220 is closed in the Fort Stanton area. Closures and evacuations will be reassessed daily, the Forestry Division said. BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and outdoor welding are all prohibited, the Forestry Division said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Crews drop over 30K gallons of fire retardant on Camp Fire
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Fire crews dropped over 30,000 gallons of fire retardant on the Camp Fire on Sunday, May 25, near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Camp Fire burning in Lincoln County near Fort Stanton The New Mexico State Forestry Division says the fire is still at 350 acres with 0 percent containment as of Monday morning, May 26. However, crews expect to see an increase in containment as the day progresses. Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso. The Forestry Division says firefighters and air support crews responded to the Camp Fire on Sunday. Six large air tankers, two single-engine air tankers, one type-1 helicopter, and one type-3 helicopter responded to the fire along with several fire crews. Crews dropped 32,000 gallons of fire retardant at strategic locations around the fire on Sunday, the Forestry Division said. Fire crews will construct a fire line on the north side of the fire and will continue to secure the fire line created on Sunday on the south side. The Forestry Division says fire activity has decreased compared to Sunday. Temperatures will reach 75 degrees on Monday, and cloud coverage is expected in the afternoon. There is a chance of rain on Tuesday, May 27, the Forestry Division said. The area affected by the fire is a managed area by the BLM and the State of New Mexico. The BLM Managed land is part of the Fort Stanton, Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, and the state land involved in the fire is the historic fort, managed by the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Division. The Forestry Division says three historical structures were damaged at Fort Stanton. 'Fort Stanton is one of the most intact 19th-century military forts in the country and is the best-preserved fort in New Mexico. One other outbuilding was damaged in the fire,' the Forestry Division said. Evacuations are still in place for the Ft. Stanton and surrounding campgrounds off of Highway 220 between US 380 and the Devils Canyon turn off. Highway 220 is closed in the Fort Stanton area. Please stay away from the fire area to allow fire personnel quick access to the fire. 'BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County, and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads, and welding are all prohibited,' the Forestry Division said. To view full fire restrictions, click here: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
