Cold Front Helps Increase Containment of Medio Fire

By USDA

Start date: Aug. 17, 2020             Cause:Lightning              Size: 4,010 acres              Containment: 95%

Location: Rio en Medio Trail, Española Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest

Current status:  Containment lines continue to hold as strong winds from the northwest pushed the Medio Fire into the interior. Moisture from the cold front moving through New Mexico slowed movement in the northeast corner of the fire near the burn scar from the 2011 Pacheco Fire. Firefighters are monitoring containment lines on the fire’s perimeter.

Resources:  Two hand crews, three engine modules, one helicopter and one fixed-wing aircraft.

Closures: The closure order remains in effect prohibiting members of the public from entering the area around the Medio Fire, including all Forest Service lands, roads and trails, roughly defined by the Rio Nambe Trail #160 on the north, the Borrego Trail #150 and Forest Road 412 on the east, Forest Road 102 on the south and back up the forest boundary line on the west to meet the Rio Nambe Trail #160. The Temporary Flight Restriction over the fire remains in place.

Weather:  The Medio Fire received snow and rain overnight with more precipitation expected tonight and tomorrow. Drier and warmer weather is expected for Friday and the weekend.

Values at risk: Nearby communities, Nambe Reservoir infrastructure, tribal and private inholdings, cultural resources, watersheds and riparian areas, power and phone lines, and grazing allotments.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Firefighters are conducting operations under protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.

Smoke: Smoke is visible from fires across the western United States and the Medio Fire. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/allows you to zoom into the Santa Fe area to see the latest smoke information. 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 can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website at https://nmtracking.org/fire.

Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website,New Mexico Fire Information website and Inciwebas well as the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.