Update on Track fire near Raton, NM, June 15, 2011

Update: On June 16 we posted an updated article about the Track fire.

================
Update at 11:55 p.m. MT, June 15, 2011. From New Mexico Fire Information:

Road Closure Update:

I-25 will reopen at 4:00 a.m., Thursday, June16.

Exit 454 and the Point of Entry exit in New Mexico, and Exit 2 in Colorado, will be closed. Traffic is not allowed to stop along the interstate.

A 45 mph speed limit will be STRICTLY enforced throughout the area of the interstate impacted by the Track Fire.

The public should use extreme caution on the interstate as there will be heavy fire traffic

==================

The map above shows the location of the Track fire and its proximity to the city of Raton, New Mexico and Interstate 25. Like the Wallow fire which became an interstate fire when it crossed from Arizona into New Mexico, the Track fire burned from New Mexico into Colorado.

The state of New Mexico road condition web site still lists Interstate 25 as being closed as of 8:48 a.m. on Wednesday, now for the fourth day.

New Mexico Fire Information reported Tuesday night that the fire had burned 24,034 acres and was 5% contained. Two homes and three cabins have been destroyed.  Here is an excerpt from their site:

Fire crews were able to make good progress today on the west and south flanks of the fire. But, erratic winds, low humidity, and extremely dry vegetation conspired to create extreme fire behavior and rapid fire spread later in the day in the southeast. This led to evacuations in the Yankee Canyon area.

Winds were favorable early in the day, blowing the fire back into itself. Crews working on the west side (Division A) of the fire were able to complete indirect line. They secured the line by burning out vegetation, essentially using the fuel before the fire could get to it.

Successful work on the south side of the fire (Division Z) included patrolling by structure protection fire engines, seeking and treating hot spots, and clearing vegetation to further protect buildings. Similar work was conducted on the east flank (Division Y) until the afternoon. At that point a small area of fire, fueled by dry vegetation and winds blowing toward the southeast, ran toward Yankee Canyon. Colfax County Sheriffs Department and New Mexico State Police officers evacuated residents from the area.

The information we had earlier about investigators leaning toward an abandoned campfire being the cause should have linked that info to the Wallow fire instead. The cause of the Track fire is still under investigation.

Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire. View all posts by Bill Gabbert