Kokopelli
Fire Update
RUIDOSO, NM -- Not much has changed regarding the Kokopelli Fire
outside of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Firefighters continue to hold the
Kokopelli fire to approximately 600 acres. Fire officials will be making
a daylight inspection of the burn area this morning and more accurate
data will be available after the inspection.
Officials did confirm that 30 homes were lost to the blaze that
started just after noon on Saturday, March 23. A list of addresses of
homes that were destroyed or damaged will be available to residents
later this afternoon. “We want to be as accurate as possible before
releasing this information”, said Fire Information Officer, James
Mason.
The fire continues to move in an easterly direction. Officials were
happy to report that the fire is primarily a grass fire now and
firefighters are making good headway. At the time of this release, fire
spokesman, James Mason had no official reports on containment or control
of the fire. While cooler evening temperatures and lower winds helped
tremendously with ground efforts last night, the high winds that plagued
efforts yesterday are expected to return this afternoon.
Approximately 150 homes from several subdivisions were evacuated
yesterday. They will remain evacuated until fire
officials feel it is safe to return to their homes. A temporary shelter
has been set up at the nearby Alto Lakes Country Club for those
residents who were effected by the evacuation. The local Red Cross is
administering the shelter. For information on the shelter, family and
friends can call 505-257-7579. While donations of goods are not needed
at this time, donations of funds are always welcome.
There are currently over 200 firefighters working the Kokopelli fire.
A total of 400 firefighters have been requested and are on their way. A
Type I Team arrived last night and have taken command of fire fighting
efforts. There are currently 27 engines, 10 water tenders and 5 dozers
working the fire. A total of 5 heavy air tankers and 2 light planes were
being used in air attacks. Air support is being divided between the
Kokopelli Fire and the #52 Fire on the nearby Mescalero Apache Indian
Reservation.
Firefighters from around the state including, Lincoln County, Otero
County, Chavez County, Capitan, Bonito, High Rolls, Carrizozo, Socorro,
the Gila and New Mexico State Forestry have worked together to contain
the wildfire.
Governor Johnson is scheduled to fly into Ruidoso this morning to
inspect the site.
MESCALERO
5 #2 FIRE UPDATE
EAST BOWL AND SOUTH BOWL FIRES FULLY CONTAINED
RUIDOSO, NM -- The 5 #2 Fire that started Saturday
morning, March 23 on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation continues to
burn, pushed by strong winds. At the time of this release, the fire had
consumed 10,860 acres of ponderosa pine, pinon and grass lands. The fire
is moving through rough terrain and arroyos.
Two smaller fires called the East Bowl Fire and the South Bowl Fire have
been fully contained. The East Bowl fire burned approximately 100 acres,
while the South Bowl fire was limited to 40 acres.
At the time of this release, fire fighters have contained 5% of the 5#2
Fire. As the fire continues to move in a northeast pattern, residents in
the Alamo Canyon area of the Hondo Valley have been asked to evacuate the
area. The Alamo Canyon area is lightly populated. Large ranches and
grazing land make up much of the countryside. Fire officials hope to have
the evacuation complete by noon today.
A Type I Incident Management Team has been dispatched to take control of
firefighting efforts on the 5#2 Fire. Currently there are 14 twenty person
crews working the fire. With support staff, approximately 300 firefighters
are battling the blaze. In addition to human resources, there are 20
dozers, 6 water tenders, 14 engines and air support including a
helicopter, a single engine plane and heavy air tankers are working the
fire.
One mobile home has been destroyed, but no injuries have been reported.
For more information on the 5#2 contact Rachel LaPaz at 505-464-4410.
NUMBER
5 #2 FIRE UPDATE
MARCH 24, 2002 AS OF 11:30 AM
MESCALERO, NM -- The New Mexico Type II Incident
Management Team accepted management of the Number 5 #2 fire at 6:00 this
morning. The fire is burning in rangeland grass, pinon and juniper
woodland and some ponderosa pine. One residence was confirmed lost, on
private land, north of Mescalero land and several other ranch houses are
still threatened, in the path of the fire. Lincoln County Sheriff deputies
and State Police will contact these ranches and people in the area of
Alamo Canyon to evacuate, for public safety. Structure protection engines
are being stationed near these houses.
Two hand crews, five engines, four water tenders and seven bulldozers
fought the fire all last night, making progress while higher relative
humidity and cooler temperatures allowed safe burn out operations. Winds
were clocked at 40 miles an hour with gusts to 60 in the fire area
yesterday, red flag warning weather conditions in fire lingo. Dry forest
conditions, howling wind and steep terrain hampered control of the fire.
Similar weather is expected today.
The fire was human caused as there was no lightning in the area and is
under investigation. The fire grew from 30 acres when it was discovered at
around 8:00 yesterday morning to an estimated 10,000 acres at around 10:00
last night. When things are this crackling dry and the wind is as
blustery, fires grow at an alarming rate. Fire danger is rated as extreme,
leading to complete closure of all back country areas on Mescalero land on
weekends and holidays. Restricted travel will be allowed during the week
for residents and people who work on the reservation.
Number 5 #2, East Bull and South Bull Fire Update
Current Acreage: Number 5 #2 - 10,860 acres East Bull - 121 Acres South
Bull 43 acres
Date Started: Number 5 #2 (3/23/02) East and South Bull (3/24/02)
Current Containment: Number 5 #2 (Less than 5%) East and South Bull lined
and holding
Expected Containment: Unknown
Fuels: Range Grass, Pinon, Juniper and Ponderosa Pine
Terrain: Flatlands, Arroyos, and 40% slopes
Threatened resources: Homes, water tanks, wells and woodland resources
Status: Active Fire with flame lengths of 20 to 30 feet. Winds 18 to 30
MPH.
Structures Lost: One confirmed
Evacuations: Hale Lake, and Alamo Canyon
Total Personnel: 411
Crew: 14 Dozers: 9 Tenders: 6 Engines: 14 Overhead: 50
Air Support: Tankers: 3 in pool Helicopters: 3 Type III Air Attack: 2
Fire Information: Rachel LaPaz 505-464-4410
KOKOPELLI
FIRE UPDATE MARCH 24, 2002 AS OF 5:30 PM
Below is the list of the homes that were damaged in the
recent Kokopelli Fire outside of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Our
thoughts and prayers go with each and every family who lost their home.
| Lot 189A Unit 6 Deer Park
Woods |
John
Cater |
Houston,
TX |
| 336
El Camino Dr |
Jack
Nunn |
El
Paso, TX |
| Lot 20A Unit 3 High Mesa |
John
Kingrey |
Wimberley,
TX |
| 324 El Camino Dr |
Everett
Dillman |
El
Paso, TX |
| 316 El Camino Dr |
James
Maloney |
El
Paso, TX |
| 314 El Camino Dr |
Mark
Hallgren |
Lubbock,
TX |
| 308 El Camino Dr |
Frank
Cannella |
Alto,
NM |
| 371 El Camino Dr |
Deana
Brodie |
El
Paso, TX |
| Sec 25 Township 10S Range
13 E |
Lewis
Casing Crews Inc |
Odessa,
TX |
| 112 Valley Court |
Jerzy
Chrzanowski |
Albuquerque,
NM |
| 226 El Camino Dr |
Leland
S Herod |
Snyder,
TX |
| 380 El Camino Dr |
Marion
L Hunt |
El
Paso, TX |
| Unit 3 Lot 36 Blk 5 High
Mesa |
Ronald
Roberson |
Lubbock,
TX |
| 352 El Camino Dr |
Donald
Yearin |
Scottsdale,
AZ |
| 350 El Camino Dr |
Donald
Yearin |
Scottsdale,
AZ |
| 854 Deer Park Circle |
Willam
C McMurtry |
Alto,
NM |
| 100
Valley Court |
Mach
C Chase |
Artesia,
NM |
| Unit
1 Lot 5A Deer Park Valley |
Jean
Sommerfield |
Garland,
TX |
| Blk 4 Tract 1 Lincoln
Hills Country Club |
Hunter’s
Draw LLC |
Ruidoso,
NM |
| Tract M Rancho Ruidoso
Estates |
Joan
L Heath |
Alto,
NM |
| Lot 11 Blk 1 Rancho
Ruidoso Valley Est |
Richard
Shuffleton
|
Boonville,
CA |
| Lot 9 Blk 1 Rancho Ruidoso
Valley Est |
Sandy
Gilmore |
Ruidoso,
NM |
| Lot 6 Blk 1 Rancho Ruidoso
Valley Est |
Kenneth
Lenci |
Alto,
NM |
| Lot 5 Blk 1 Rancho Ruidoso
Valley Est |
Kenneth
Lenci |
Alto,
NM |
| Lot 41 Unit 2 Little Creek
Hills Rd |
Cynthia
Wilson |
Roswell,
NM |
| Lot 24 Unit 1 Little Creek
Hills Rd |
Alicia
Sarre |
El
Paso, TX |
| Lot 37A Unit 2 Little
Creek Hills Rd |
David
Tremblay |
Alto,
NM |
| Lot 1Unit 1 Little Creek
Hills Rd |
Chet
Southard |
Alto,
NM |
| Lot
4 Blk 11 Unit 3 High Mesa |
Dorrace
Smith |
Big
Springs, TX |
KOKOPELLI
FIRE UPDATE MARCH 24, 2002 AS OF 6:00 PM
RUIDOSO, NM -- Fire crews made excellent progress on the Kokopelli Fire
today, despite dry, gusty winds. Fire officials revised their previous
size estimates to 800 acres. They were quick to point out that this does
not represent a growth of the fire. It simply means that they were able to
more accurately measure the size of the fire that started yesterday around
noon. Although several scenarios involving the start of the fire have been
suggested, the official cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Currently 228 men continue to work on the fire that roared through several
subdivisions, pushed by winds gusting up to 65 miles per hour yesterday.
Estimated damages to homes is $5.2 million. Fire officials were happy to
report that only 28 homes and 1 barn were lost to the blaze. “After
assessing the damage by daylight, we were happy to discover that the
actual number of homes lost to the fire was lower than previously
reported,” said Fire Information Officer, James Mason. A complete list
of those homes damaged by the fire has been posted to www.ruidoso.net.
A cold front moving into the state tomorrow should help firefighting
efforts.
Approximately 150 homes from several subdivisions were evacuated
yesterday. While escorted trips into the evacuated areas were permitted
today, those ceased at 6:00 PM this evening. Officials are hopeful that
evacuees will be reunited with their homes sometime tomorrow. A temporary
shelter has been set up at the nearby Alto Lakes Country Club for those
residents who were effected by the evacuation. The local Red Cross is
administering the shelter. For information on the shelter, family and
friends can call 505-257-7579. While donations of goods are not needed at
this time, donations of money are encouraged.
Children from the Alto, Kokopelli, Deer Valley and Rancho Ruidoso
subdivisions should meet their buses for school at TR’s Market. Ruidoso
School buses will pick them up there at the regular times.
A Type I Team arrived last night and have taken command of fire fighting
efforts. Terri Wildemuth has been assigned as the new Fire Information
Officer for the Kokopelli Fire. There are currently 27 engines, 10 water
tenders and 5 dozers working the fire. A total of 5 heavy air tankers and
2 light planes were being used in air attacks. Air support is being
divided between the Kokopelli Fire and the Number 5 #2 Fire on the nearby
Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation.
KOKOPELLI
FIRE UPDATE - FIRE IS 60% CONTAINED
MARCH 25, 2002 AS OF 1:00 PM
RUIDOSO, NM -- Fire crews made excellent progress on the
Kokopelli Fire last night. Cooler temperatures and calmer winds helped
firefighters contain 60% of the fire. The Kokopelli Fire has burned a
total of 823 acres. Fire officials were quick to point out that this does
not represent a growth of the fire. It simply means that they were able to
more accurately measure the size of the fire that started Saturday, March
23 around noon. Although several scenarios involving the start of the fire
have been suggested, the official cause of the fire is still under
investigation.
Forest Service officials reported that hand and dozer control lines were
completed yesterday evening around 60% of the fire. Interior burning
continued from some heavy fuels and structural debris. Crews battled
erratic and gusty winds throughout the afternoon. “Everything today is
working in our favor”, said Donna Nemeth, Fire Information Officer.
Approximately 150 homes from several subdivisions were evacuated on
Saturday. Evacuees were being escorted back into the area in groups of 10
this morning. They were accompanied by public safety officials. Fire
officials are hopeful that all evacuees will be allowed back home some
time today.
Twenty-eight homes and 1 barn were lost to the fire. Estimated damages to
homes is $5.2 million. A complete list of homes damaged in the fire as
well as updated releases on the fire have been posted to www.ruidoso.net.
A press conference will be held at the Spencer Theater for the Performing
Arts at 3:00 PM today.
COOL
WEATHER, LOW WINDS AID FIREFIGHTING
EFFORTS ON MESCALERO NUMBER 5 AT #2
RUIDOSO, NM – Firefighting efforts continue to be aided
by the cooler weather that has moved into the state as well as the lack of
high winds. Although stated zero percent contained by the Type II
Management team there is now a line around 60 percent of the fire area.
Containment is expected to be at 100 percent by Wednesday, March 27.
Mary Stuever, the Type II Fire Information Officer for the Number 5 at #2
was very pleased with the efforts so far, “The activity is really light
right now and it is not growing. We are really having a great day.”
The nature of this particular fire is that it has been very patchy so the
estimated size of the fire is around 10,000 acres. A more accurate
assessment should be determined by the end of today with GPS equipment.
KOKOPELLI
FIRE UPDATE MARCH 25, 2002 AS OF 4:30 PM
RUIDOSO, NM -- “It was a great day!” said fire
officials regarding the suppression efforts of crews working the Kokopelli
Fire. The much cooler temperatures, higher humidity and calmer winds all
helped firefighters make tremendous headway in containing the Kokopelli
Fire. Officials are calling the fire 60% contained, but they did note that
crews have completely surrounded the fire with a suppression line. The
Kokopelli Fire has burned a total of 800 acres. A more accurate assessment
of acreage burned will become available after the forest service conducts
a global satellite survey. Although several scenarios involving the start
of the fire have been suggested, the official cause of the fire is still
under investigation.
Approximately 150 homes from several subdivisions were evacuated on
Saturday. As of noon today, all evacuees were returned to their homes.
Twenty-eight homes and 1 barn were lost to the fire. A complete list of
homes damaged in the fire as well as updated releases on the fire have
been posted to www.ruidoso.net.
Firefighters estimate the cost of battling the blaze to be approximately
$600,000 to date. This does not include the cost of lost homes and
structures. While officials could not estimate when full containment of
the fire would be declared, they are hopeful that all crews will be out of
the fire zone by Wednesday, March 27 or Thursday, March 28. Some crews
have already been released from fire duty.
KOKOPELLI
FIRE 100% CONTAINED March 25, 2002 As of 9:00 PM
RUIDOSO, NM – Firefighting Officials were pleased to
announce tonight that the Kokopelli Fire is now 100% contained. The total
acreage burned has now been updated to 962 acres.
Firefighting officials remain optimistic that they will leave the area by
Wednesday, March 27 or Thursday 28 after the fire has been declared 100
percent controlled.
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