Work on Diener Canyon and Bluewater Fires Shifts to Environmental and Road Repair
Release Date: Apr 23, 2018
April 23 - There is only one section of perimeter on the Bluewater Fire which is still requiring the attention of firefighters. It is at the northern end of the southeast flank along Salitre Mesa. The problem area is actually a cluster of several spot fires that emerged during last week’s wind events. Extinguishing the spots is being accomplished with arduous hands-on water application by firefighters on the ground carrying heavy bladder bags moving from spot to spot. With favorable weather conditions this last bit of open line is expected to be closed in a day or two. Meanwhile, a road grader and water tender are working on roads. Forest Roads (FR) 180, 480, 425 and 178 are all being repaired and graded to make sure they are in good shape for traffic after the area is reopened to the public. Green branches that were cut during suppression activities are now completely chipped and being used to repair hand and bulldozer lines.
The public will continue to see smoke coming from deep within the perimeters of both fires in the days ahead, especially during the warm and dry afternoon hours. This smoke is coming from isolated islands of fuels which will burn out naturally. Their locations are difficult and dangerous for firefighters to access. Since they pose no threat to the fire’s control lines or any private property they will be monitored and allowed to burn themselves out naturally.
All of the work that has been done to contain the fire will result in an expected adjustment to the forest closure that has been in effect since the fires started on April 12. The Cibola National Forest is expecting to lift the closure on portions of forest lands that are outside the fire perimeters today or tomorrow. FR 575 between the Diener Fire and the Bluewater Fire will remain closed.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area is in place but is expected to be lifted in the soon Operating a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle in the TFR is strictly forbidden, and dangerous to aircraft employed in fire suppression.
Bluewater/Diener Canyon Fire Information: (575)322-6716 from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Twitter: @cibola_nf NM Fire Info webpage: nmfireinfo.com
G-mail: bdcfires@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/cibolanf/
Bluewater Fire - Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5741/
Diener Canyon Fire - Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5742/
Alerts & Warnings
- 03-03-06-24-03 Tempoprary Area Closure - Lake Marvin Area - Smokehouse Fire
- Area Closure for Cedro 4 Project Area on the Sandia Ranger District
- 03-03-03-24-01 Bear Trap Fire Area and Road Closures
- Occupancy & Use Prohibitions Forest Order #03-03-00-23-03
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun is prohibited