Nogal Canyon fire Saturday: Crews using infrared cameras, helicopters to fight fire

Ruidoso, New Mexico -- While the area experienced some high winds that led firefighters to stop their work in the Nogal Fire area, they were able to continue working once the winds subsided later in the day, said Rocky Gilbert, one of the Operations Chiefs managing the McBride and Nogal fires Saturday morning. Crews are using helicopters and infrared cameras to find the hotspots.

Here is the Saturday morning briefing:

Nogal Canyon Fire Update 04/16/22 - 10 a.m.

Acres: 433

Cause: Downed power lines

Containment: 4%

Start Date: April 12, 2022

Personnel : 90

Location/Origin: Nogal Canyon, west of Capitan

Fuels: Ponderosa pine, pinon and juniper, grasses

Structures burned: 6 primary, 8 outbuildings

Highlights: A Virtual Public Meeting on Facebook is scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. Questions can be submitted in advance by email or through Facebook messaging. Starting today, we will no longer provide an evening update in this format. Any notable activity will be posted on Facebook and InciWeb.

Operations: Today, hand crews and engines will patrol and mop up heat sources around the fire perimeter and around structures. Crews are working around Pfingsten Ranch and outlying areas to identify and provide point protection to threatened structures. Lighter winds this morning will enable helicopters to assist with extinguishing hotspots along the eastern edge of the fire. Scouting for and constructing fire line along the fire’s edge is ongoing.E

vacuations: Pre-evac remains in effect for the Loma Grande Area: South of Nogal Canyon from Pfingsten Road to Crockett Canyon Trail and from Crockett Canyon Trail west to Nogal Canyon Road. All of Nogal Canyon remains in evacuation status. As soon as it is safe for the public to re-enter the fire area, a notification will be made.

Lincoln County Mercantile is offering to help owners of animals that are being housed at the Capitan Fairgrounds, due to evacuations. Contact the manager at 575-354-4260.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place: Wildfires are a NO Drone Zone. Flying recreational and media drones within a TFR is illegal and endangers aircraft working on the fire. Drones found in the fire area will result in fire aviation operations being suspended until the area is cleared. If you see drones in the fire area, please report it immediately to law enforcement and the Incident Management Team. If You Fly, We Can’t!

Restrictions/Closures: Nogal Canyon remains closed. Please respect the restrictions and closures in place. Violations impede firefighter response and delay suppression activities. Anyone driving in the area should slow down and turn on headlights for visibility

Weather: Clouds will build to mostly cloudy today, clearing this evening; humidity 7-10%, temperatures in the 70s, SW winds 7-15 mph

Smoke: Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measure.

Fire Information: Public Phone Line 505-356-2636

Media Phone Line 505-445-8278

Phone Lines open 8am-8pm

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8062/NM

Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NogalCanyonFire2022Email: 2022.mcbride@firenet.gov

Operations Update:

"We're feeling pretty good about all of the McBride fire, there was some repopulation taking place. We're going to look at more areas to start repopulating and hopefully we can bring that area back to normal for everybody in the next few days," Gilbert said.

His full update is below:

UPDATE (4/15):

• Acres: 427
• Cause: Downed power lines
• Containment: 4%
• Start Date: April 12, 2022
• Location/Origin: Nogal Canyon, west of Capitan
• Fuels: Ponderosa pine, pinon and juniper, grass
•   Structures burned: 6 primary, 8 outbuildings  

Highlights: Today brings warmer weather, gusty winds up to 35 mph and a Red Flag Warning – expect increased fire activity, especially in the afternoon as fuels warm up. Good progress was made yesterday towards the goal of lifting closures and allowing homeowners back into the area as soon as safely possible. A virtual public meeting will be hosted on the McBride Fire Facebook page at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 4/16.

Evacuations: All of Nogal Canyon remains in evacuation status. Safe repopulation of homeowners is a high priority. As soon as it is safe for the public to re-enter the fire area, an update will be posted.

Restrictions/Closures: Nogal Canyon is closed

Fire Information: Public Phone Line 505-356-2636   Media Phone Line 505-445-8278            

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8062/

NM Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NogalCanyonFire2022

Email: 2022.mcbride@firenet.gov

UPDATE (4/14) 4:30 a.m.:

Acres: 345

Containment: 4%

Crews used helicopter bucket drops

65 people assigned

Night shift beginning tonight

UPDATE (4/14) 10 a.m.:

Acres: 345

Cause: Downed power lines

Containment: 4%

Start Date: April 12, 2022

Location/Origin: Nogal Canyon

Fuels: Ponderosa, pinon and juniper, dry grasses

Structures Burned: 6 primary, 8 outbuildings  

CAPITAN, New Mexico -- The Nogal Canyon fire burning northwest of the McBride fire in Ruidoso is at 400 acres with 0% containment.

The cause of the fire is listed as downed powerlines. A drop in wind speed is credited with helping firefighters work on containing the fire.

A mandatory evacuation remains in effect.

According to a news release from the Lincon National Forest: "Lincoln County Mercantile is offering to help owners of animals that are being housed at the Capitan Fairgrounds, due to evacuations. If you’re in need of help, contact Rance Rogers at 575 354-4260 or Sherry Gowen at 575 808-1186."