Location: Quemado Ranger District on the Gila National Forest

6 miles northeast of Quemado Lake Catron County, New Mexico

Start Date: May 12, 2017 Size: 330 acres Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Ponderosa Pine, Grass

Smoke: Smoke may be visible within the surrounding area of Quemado, Pie Town, Horse Springs, and Datil, NM

Resources: 1 engine, 2 Type 2 crews, 1 Wildland Fire Module, and 2 Hotshot crews.

Incident Commander: Pete Valenzuela IC3

Summary: The Baca Fire is burning on National Forest lands in rugged terrain. There are no values at risk in the immediate area. Values surrounding the fire include private property, Quemado Lake Recreation Area, Continental Divide Trail - located east of the fire, range improvement infrastructure and mixed conifer vegetation. Fire personnel are constructing hand line on the north perimeter to the pre-identified control features to contain the fire with limited exposure to fire personnel and the public. The current fire behavior is helping with restoring healthy forests and watershed restoration.

CDT hikers are discouraged from using the trail due to heavy fire activity and smoke through Macho Canyon area. We recommend at Dead Horse Canyon to take FR93 east to CRA095, north to Hwy 60. Forest visitors are discouraged from using FR 13D (Baca Pit Rd.) due to fire activity and fire vehicle traffic. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Sensors have been ordered to monitor air quality, information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health website at https://nmtracking.org/fire .

For more information on this fire, go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5178/  or call Quemado Ranger District at 575.773.4678. For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila