Cuervito Fire Update May 21, 2021 Crews Complete Burnout Operations

By SFNF

Start date: May 9, 2021                                       Cause: Lightning

Location: 9 miles east of Pecos and 3 miles southwest of the Barillas Lookout on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF)

Size: 1,621 acres after implementing management strategy to add low- to moderate-intensity fire to the ground to achieve resource benefit and reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire in the future

Resources: 1 Hotshot crew, 3 engines, heavy equipment overhead

Fuels:  Ponderosa pine, piñon-juniper, Douglas fir and oak brush

Operations:  Today crews focused on holding and securing the line after completing the last 300+ acres on the southern end of the fire yesterday. The only ignitions today were hand ignitions to clean up interior pockets of fuel. Burnout operationsare now complete on the Cuervito Fire. Firefighters’ efforts will now focus on holding the perimeter and monitoring the Cuervito Fire.

Weather: A 70% chance of precipitation is likely to bring showers and isolated thunderstorms into the area overnight. Winds will be out of the south at 15 to 25 mph. The forecast for Saturday promises even more moisture with an 80% chance of precipitation.

Values at risk: Private property nearby

Smoke: Smoke management is a key part of the planning and implementation of managed wildfire. Smoke from the Cuervito Fire may impact Santa Fe, Pecos, Las Vegas, Rowe, Glorieta, La Cueva, North and South San Ysidro, Ilfeld, San Jose, San Juan, Tecolote, Soham, Ribera, Serafina, Bernal, Anton Chico, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo and Pablo as well as the I-25 corridor. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to search for current smoke information.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. 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 on theSanta Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.