San Miguel Wildland Fire Update – July 17
Incident: San Miguel Wildfire
Released: 7/17/2009
Bandelier National Monument and the Santa Fe National Forest are cooperatively managing the lightning-ignited San Miguel Wildland Fire for resource benefits. The fire is currently 1,635 acres (1,443 acres on Bandelier National Monument; 192 acres on Santa Fe National Forest). This acreage is comprised of a mosaic of burned and unburned fuels.
"As expected, the San Miguel Wildland Fire is slowing down as it progresses northwest into an area that previously burned during the 1996 Dome Fire," said Incident Commander Marla Rodgers. Fire and smoke activity is currently limited to a few logs smoldering within the fire's perimeter. "However this fire isn't over yet and it still has the potential to continue to grow slowly to the northwest if any of the smoldering embers get established in surrounding fuels."
Six Bandelier firefighters will continue to monitor the fire from the ground and the air. "We plan to manage this natural ignition for resource benefit until it is extinguished naturally by heavy rains," Rodgers explained. "We may see a season-ending rain event as soon as next week," she added. Intermittent smoke may be present at times, but is expected to be light.
According to Bandelier National Monument Superintendent Jason Lott, "This fire is playing an essential role in maintaining this fire-adapted ecosystem." Bandelier National Monument Fire Management Officer Gary Kemp added, "Before widespread fire suppression began in the early 1900s, frequent, low intensity, surface fires maintained an open ponderosa pine forest with individual trees or small clumps of trees spaced widely apart, carpeted with grasses and wildflowers."
This naturally-ignited fire is benefitting the landscape by reducing dead wood accumulations to ash, releasing nutrients that stimulate new plant growth, and creating a mosaic of burned and unburned vegetation across the landscape, which increases habitat diversity. This slow-moving wildfire is also clearing out dead fuels on the forest floor, creating a natural fuel break that will help slow the intensity and spread of any future large, intense wildfires.
Bandelier National Monument remains OPEN, and the main visitor areas, including the Main Loop Trail in Lower Frijoles Canyon are not affected by this fire. Current backcountry trail closures include the Turkey Springs Trail and Boundary Peak Trail.
Santa Fe National Forest backcountry closures remain in place. Forest Road (FR) 142 is closed to the public at FR 289 due to fire vehicle traffic. Additionally, the following Santa Fe National Forest trails are closed for public safety: Trail 116 - Capulin Trail, Trail 118 - St. Peter's Dome Trail, Trail 119 - Turkey Spring Trail, and Trail 427 - Boundary Peak Trail.
The lighting-ignited San Miguel Wildland Fire was discovered on July 2. The fire is burning in pinon, juniper, ponderosa pine and grass. The fire remains 13 miles south of Los Alamos. It is also approximately 9.5 miles southwest of White Rock, 10.5 miles north of Cochiti Pueblo, 22 miles northwest of Santa Fe, and 4.5 miles southwest of Bandelier National Monument scenic overlook.
This will be the last update unless significant changes occur. For additional fire information, please call (505) 662-7065 x 28
