Conejos Fire Update

By SFNF

Scattered thunderstorms in the Jemez Mountains over the weekend put a fair amount of moisture on the Conejos Fire, but not enough to extinguish it. Fire managers released some of the resources assigned to the fire over the weekend. The plan is to wait out the monsoonal weather patterns over the area now and, if the moisture is followed by a drying trend, resume firing operations later in the week to complete an 800-acre block.
Start date: July 29, 2019
Cause: Lightning
Location: Conejos Peak on the Jemez Ranger District adjacent to Forest Road 266 about 4 miles northeast of the Paliza Campground and 5 miles from the community of Ponderosa
Size: 185 acres
Fuels: Primarily ponderosa pine
Resources on scene: Type 4 Incident Commander, district fire personnel and Santa Fe County Fire Department’s Black Canyon hand crew
Current status: Crews will be monitoring the Conejos Fire through the showers and thunderstorms predicted for the next few days.
Weather: The forecast for the next few days is for isolated showers and thunderstorms in the morning, followed by more widespread showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds today are out of the northwest at 5-10mph with temperatures in the 80s.
Predicted smoke impact: Smoke is visible from US Highway 550, San Ysidro and Jemez Pueblo.
The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) can take advantage of natural ignitions like the Conejos Fire to improve conditions on the ground by getting rid of woody material and debris on the forest floor. Weather over the next few days will determine whether the Conejos Fire can continue to achieve resource benefits by reintroducing fire to a fire-adapted forest ecosystem. Firefighter and public safety is always the first priority on all wildland fire incidents.
Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health by using the 5-3-1 visibility method can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire. People with health concerns can also call NMDOH at 505-827-0006 for additional information. For information on the HEPA filter loan program, go to https://facnm.org/smoke#smokeanchor5.
Fire updates are posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website at www.nmfireinfo.com, www.facebook.com/SantaFeNF and Twitter @SantafeNF. For additional information about the Conejos Fire, please contact the Jemez Ranger District at 575-829-3535.