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Wildfire Update: Cajete Fire Starts on Jemez Ranger District

JUNE 15, 2017

Location: Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest along NM Highway 4 close to the boundary between the Santa Fe National Forest and the Valles Caldera National Preserve and

Start Date: Smoke was first reported to Santa Fe Dispatch at 10:47 a.m. on June 15, 2017.

Size: Estimated at 100 acres and spreading and moving to the east.

Percent Contained: 0%

Cause: Unknown at this time. Contrary to some reports, it was not caused by a prescribed fire. No federal agencies are conducting prescribed fires now that we have entered fire season.

Growth Potential: High

Vegetation: Mostly ponderosa pine with some mixed conifer and aspen on the north slopes.

Resources: As of 1 p.m. today, multiple resources are responding to the Cajete Fire, including 6 engines, 1 Type 1 helicopter, 3 air tankers, a lead plane and initial attack with multiple crews on the ground. Type 3 team will arrive on scene at 6:00 p.m. In addition, 3 Type 1 and 2 Type 2-Initial Attack teams have been ordered and will arrive tonight and tomorrow.

Closures and Evacuations: NM State Police have closed NM Highway 4 from the intersection of NM Highway 501 on the west side to the intersection of NM Highway 126 on the east side. Evacuations of several small communities have begun, including Ruby Hole, Los Griegos and Sierra de Los Pinos. Additional evacuations may be necessary, depending on the fire’s behavior.

Fire Information: Updates will be posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website at nmfireinfo.com and on @SantaFeNFand www.facebook.com/SantaFeNF.