Thompson Ridge Fire News Release
June 7, 2013  10:00 p.m.
Fire Information:  (541) 787-4342
                                 (541) 787-4343

Evacuations: An evacuation order remains in effect for Thompson Ridge, Rancho de la Cueva and Elk Valley.
 
Smoke: Smoke from the Thompson Ridge Fire is evident in several communities.  Communities in the region will be impacted by smoke from this fire and other fires in the area.  Smoke sensitive persons in these areas need to be alert to this possibility and be prepared to take any necessary precautions.  For more smoke information and air quality forecasts, please visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s website at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb and https://nmtracking.org/fire.
 
Road and Fire Area Closure: All points of entry to the Valles Caldera National Preserve are closed to public access due to fire activity.  The Fenton Lake State Park is also closed to the public.

 
Open and active:  Communities in and around the Santa Fe National Forest remain open and accessible including Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument.  Camping, hiking and other recreational opportunities are available in these areas.
 
For more information regarding the fire please visit www.inciweb.org or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ThompsonRdgFire .  Additional photos and information are available at www.facebook.com/ThompsonRdgFire and www.flickr.com/ThompsonRdgFire.
 
*End*
Acres:  18,300                                     Start date:  May 31, 2013
Cause:  Downed powerline                 Location:  Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM
Containment: 40 percent                     Fuels:  Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine
Terrain:  Steep, rugged                        Resources: 25 crews, 49 engines, 23 water tenders, 2 dozers
Total personnel:  1,092                        Available air support:  3 air tankers, 6 helicopters
 
Summary: Today crews continued mopping up and widening the containment line on the western edge of the fire near the adjoining communities. This section of the perimeter has continued to show major cooling down.  Crews also made significant progress in securing containment lines on the eastern edge of the fire along Valles Caldera (VC) Road 02 from the Ranch Headquarters north to the junction with VC Road 08 with no heat near the line.  Along the southern perimeter of the fire, firefighter continued to improve containment lines.
 
The interior of the fire still has hot areas that produced occasional columns today.  Aerial ignition was applied in some areas to create low intensity fire in order to clean out fuels.  Tonight, crews will continue to hold and widen containment lines.   
 
A public meeting is scheduled for the Thompson Ridge Fire for tomorrow, Saturday, June 8, 2013, beginning at 4:00 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Fire Station in Sierra los Pinos, New Mexico, located south of Highway 4 on FR 10.  The Arizona Central West Zone team will be present to give an update on the fire.  New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez will be in attendance.
 
We encourage everyone to limit activity and travel on Highway 4 from Jemez Springs to Los Alamos and Highway 126 to Cuba due to heavy fire traffic in and around the Thompson Ridge Fire.  Heavy police presence from the Sandoval County Sheriff and New Mexico State Police Departments will be in the area to monitor traffic.
 

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.