EMNRD-FORESTRY DIVISION
SOUTHWEST AREA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM #1

BEA DAY - INCIDENT COMMANDER

 Ute Park Residents Return; Smoke to Remain in Coming Days

Acres: 36,740 acres (26,387 acres on Philmont Scout Ranch) Percent Containment: 77%
Start Date: May 31, 2018, 2:10pm Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Jurisdiction: NM State Fuels: Grass, Piñon Juniper, Mixed Conifer
Origin Location: Highway 64 in Ute Park, NM, between Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron
Resources: 545 personnel including 13 crews, 10 helicopters, 18 engines, 4 bulldozers, 7 water tenders

Colfax County lifted the evacuation for Ute Park today at 10 a.m. All property access off NM 204 is still closed and under evacuation orders. Please visit the Colfax County website for more information http://www.co.colfax.nm.us/.

Until monsoons arrive, expect to see flames and smoke within the fire’s perimeter as the fire burns through pockets of previously unburned vegetation. It is likely fire within the perimeter will produce notable smoke that will be visible from both Ute Park and the Cimarron areas. Fire activity and smoke will vary with weather, vegetation and terrain.

US 64 remains closed eastbound and westbound between mile marker 287 at Eagle Nest to mile marker 309 at Cimarron for public safety. The only exception is for local Ute Park residents (with ID) who will be allowed to travel between Ute Park and Eagle Nest on US 64. NM 204 remains closed north and south of mile marker 0 to mile marker 10.
These areas will stay closed as firefighters continue to work with collaborators to mitigate concerns related to uncontained fire, road conditions, flash flooding, and firefighter safety. Road crews are also using large equipment to install concrete Jersey barriers along sections of Highway 64 to help catch rolling and flooding debris.

As containment increases and fewer personnel are needed to keep the fire’s perimeter secure, resources will be demobilizing from the fire in the next 2-3 days. Many crews and equipment will be reassigned to support operations on emerging incidents. The fire personnel and equipment remaining on the Ute Park Fire will be mopping up, patrolling the line and chipping the remnants from thinning operations.

There was a community meeting at 5pm tonight at the Ute Park Fire Department. This meeting is available online at https://facebook.com/uteparkfireinfo.

No homes have burned on the Ute Park Fire. Structure protection measures are in place, including hoselays and sprinklers. Fourteen outbuildings burned on the Philmont Scout Ranch on May 31.

Firefighters are working to suppress this fire where they can do so safely and effectively. Values at risk include public and firefighter safety, the community of Ute Park, the Philmont Scout Ranch, the Cimarroncito and Urraca Watersheds, Cimarron Canyon State Park, private lands, economic benefits from tourism and recreation in the area, and air quality.

Use the 5-3-1 visibility method to protect your health from smoke: https://bit.ly/2jJwwd7. Air Monitoring Resources are available at https://bit.ly/2tm1VG6 , https://bit.ly/2sqcLJ4 . A Smoke Forecast is available at https://bit.ly/2Jj0c98 .

Call 511 or visit http://nmroads.com/ for current road info. NM 204 is closed north and south of mile marker 0 to mile marker 10. US 64 remains closed eastbound and westbound from mile marker 287 to mile marker 309 at Cimarron.

Cimarron State Park remains closed. Eagle Nest Lake State Park is open.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. More info visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org 

Ute Park Fire Info: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5820/  (air quality info, maps, etc.) and http://nmfireinfo.com 
Colfax County Emergency Management Information: https://bit.ly/2LbNdXh 
Public Line: (505) 309-0751 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)