16,600-acre blaze sweeps through northeastern New Mexico
PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS ALFORD
Members of the Mt. Taylor Hotshots conduct back-burn operations on the eastern edge of the Ojo Feliz Fire. |
On Wednesday, April 12, a brush fire ignited on ranch land in northeastern New Mexico, about 11 miles north of the town of Mora. The 25-acre fire quickly spread into ponderosa pine, jumping from one tree top to another. County and municipal fire engines and crews were first to respond, and the New Mexico Division of Forestry took initial command of the incident.
High winds fanned the blaze, named the Ojo Feliz Fire, as it charred 900 acres in just a few hours. The fire prompted an immediate mandatory evacuation order for the villages of Ojo Feliz and Los Hueros, as well as nearby ranches; on April 13, state police issued an evacuation order for Ocate. Officials closed access on N.M. 442 from La Cueva to Ocate and N.M. 120 from Black Lake to Ocate. Coyote Creek and Morphy Lake state parks were closed as well.
In the early morning hours of April 13, crews made some progress bulldozing a fireline along the north end of the fire. However, that didn't stop the blaze from making its most significant run overnight. By the following afternoon, the fire had burned approximately 12,500 acres of steep, densely wooded hillsides and grass-filled valleys.
Fire spokesman Dan Bastion says the fire was growing so quickly, an organized team needed to take over command; as such, the fire was turned over to the New Mexico Type 2 Interagency Incident Management Team at 2000 hrs on April 13. The team set up incident command at the Rainsville, N.M., Fire Station.
PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS ALFORD
Juniper bushes go up in flames on the fire’s eastern edge.
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High Winds Hamper Efforts
Crews from the U.S. Forest Service, New Mexico Division of Forestry, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rainsville Volunteer Fire Department, Mora Volunteer Fire Department, Santa Fe Fire Department, Ojo Feliz Volunteer Fire Department, Ocate Volunteer Fire Department, Las Vegas (N.M.) Fire Department and other local departments and agencies responded to the fire.
Forestry Division Spokesperson Dan Ware says that by 1600 hrs on April 13, approximately 300 firefighters were battling the blaze. On April 14, high winds and dropping humidity continued to hamper firefighting efforts. Firefighters had the fire 20 percent contained, but it had already consumed four outbuildings.
Ware says at the height of the incident, there were approximately 500 firefighters working the fire, along with four heavy airtankers, three helicopters and two single-engine airtankers. The tankers flew non-stop between the Albuquerque Sunport and the fire, dumping their 3,000-gallon payloads of fire retardant before returning to refuel and load more retardant. Additionally, four bulldozers and 20 engines fought the fire on the ground, as fire crews tried to protect homes and cut lines along the southern and eastern edges of the fire.
Bastion says there were sustained winds of 25 mph and wind gusts up to 45 mph on April 15, prompting fire officials to ground all aircraft. Additionally, heavy fuels and rough terrain prevented engine access and complicated suppression and mop up operations along some sections of fireline. Despite these adverse conditions, firefighters were able to improve containment. By this time, more than 15,000 acres had burned.
Sunday was a calmer day, Bastion adds, so firefighters were able to get a better handle on the fire. On Monday, April 17, fire officials lifted evacuation orders and firefighters performed mop up operations on the fire, which was now 80 percent contained.
Command of the incident was returned to the New Mexico Division of Forestry on Tuesday, April 18, at 1900 hrs.
The Ojo Feliz Fire, which ultimately charred 16,600 acres of private land, was 100 percent contained by April 18 at 1800 hrs. As of April 20, there were still approximately 80 firefighters performing mop up operations. Ware says the fire was caused by exhaust particles from a vehicle.
FEMA Authorizes Funds
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, at the request of Mora County commissioners, requested and received disaster status for the region. FEMA quickly authorized the use of federal funds to help the state.
In a press release, FEMA Acting Director R. David Paulison said: "When the state requested federal assistance, the fire was a quarter-mile from the town of Ojo Feliz, threatened 100 homes and grew from 150 to 1,500 acres in 30 minutes, with flames estimated at 150 feet in height. We never want the cost of fighting wildfires to limit the resources needed to protect people and minimize property loss." The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of state, local and tribal eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.
Ware says the fire's cost will probably reach $3 million.
