Dozens of homes, structures lost as Dog Head Fire grows to 16,000+ acres
Editor’s Note: The story below is all the updates from Thursday.Updates beginning Friday can be found here.
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ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Twenty-four homes and 21 other structures had burned as of Thursday night in Bernalillo and Torrance counties as the Dog Head Fire grew to more than 16,000 acres during the day in the northern Manzano Mountains.
The fire remains uncontained and mandatory evacuations remain in place for several parts of Bernalillo and Torrance counties.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said at a news conference at 7:30 p.m. Thursday that the fire grew 12,000 acres overnight. It was estimated at 16,000 acres as of the news conference.
Below is a map of the boundaries of the fire and hot spots as of 7:06 a.m. Friday. If you’re on a mobile device, click here.
The governor called the scene she witnessed in a National Guard Black Hawk tour of the fire just before the presser “horrific” and implored people under orders to evacuate to do so.
“Don’t refuse a mandatory evacuation. You have to leave your home. Your life cannot be replaced,” she said. “Don’t take any of those unnecessary risks because you are also putting others at risk.”
Leaders of the fire crews say they expect to battle the fire for at least a week, but likely longer. Gov. Martinez said people likely won’t be able to go back to their homes, should they remain, for at least four or five days.
“This is a serious fire. Don’t take any risks. Take instructions from those in charge,” Gov. Martinez reiterated.
The fire has zero containment at this time, and the cause remains under investigation. It is primarily burning dead timber and ponderosa pine.
MORE CREWS EN ROUTE; GOVERNOR TOURS FIRE
The fire was elevated to a Type-1 incident, meaning that national and other multi-agency resources are being brought in. Type-1 incidents are usually declared for natural disasters, large wildfires and hurricanes. The crews will shadow current crews and take over in the next two days.
As of 9:35 p.m., there were 628 personnel working the fire. There were hot shot crews from Silver City, Gila, Midewin, Tatanka and Geronimo. There were also Type-6 engines from six different agencies, three types of Type-2 interagency workers, two crews and four dozer operators and EMT crews.
Crews from North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona are also assisting. National Guard crews are manning the roads and going door-to-door with law enforcement to get people out of their homes who are under evacuation orders.
Also Thursday afternoon, Gov. Martinez announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the state, which means that federal funds will cover 75 percent of costs associated with fighting the fire.
The money can be put toward resource positioning, evacuations and shelters, traffic control and fire equipment.
A smoke advisory remains in effect for areas affected by the fire through the weekend because of the Dog Head Fire and the Cedar Fire in Arizona, whose smoke is expected to arrive in the Rio Grande Valley Thursday evening.
Smoke from the fire created haze over Denver and eastern Colorado.
EVACUATION ORDERS IN PLACE; POWER TO AREA CUT
Torrance County Emergency Management ordered new mandatory evacuations for Torrance County Thursday afternoon. The boundaries for the ordered evacuations are as follows: the Torrance County line (northern boundary); Peacock Road/County Road 30 (eastern boundary); the Manzano Mountains (western boundary); and Highway 55 (southern boundary).
Bernalillo County emergency managers issued mandatory evacuations late Wednesday night for anyone living at the intersection of NM Highways 337 and 217 south to the Torrance County line. Evacuated communities include Chilili, home to about 113 people.
Other areas in the mandatory evacuation include Ponderosa Pine, Yrisarri, El Merced and Escabosa.
Authorities turned off electricity in the area of State Roads 55 and 337 in order to protect firefighters at 4 p.m. when the fire started to take down power lines.
Any questions about power being cut are being directed to PNM at 888-342-5766 and the Central NM Electric Co-Op at 505-832-4483.
FIRE GROWS QUICKLY THURSDAY; SOME STRUCTURES LOST
The fire grew more than 12,000 acres overnight and was estimated at 16,000 acres by Thursday evening.
During the overnight hours, 20 deputies evacuated nearly 50 homes in southeastern Bernalillo County as the fire grew.
Fire officials told KOB Thursday morning the fire reached Chilili, but the dangerous conditions have so far prevented crews from knowing exactly where the fire is in relation to the community. Officials reported some structure loss in Chilili Thursday, but say they do not know how many structures or the types of structures that were lost.
Torrance County deputies went door to door Thursday trying to get residents in evacuation zones to leave. At least 200 people were evacuated from the La Parra community.
Many residents have adhered to evacuation orders, but others have stayed behind to wait the fire out.
A KOB crew got in with residents of Chilili behind evacuation lines as the fire encroached on the town Thursday afternoon, but was forced to evacuate quickly with residents as flames peaked over the nearby hills.
Many of those still left in Chilili Thursday held out as long as they could before making their way to the Los Vecinos Community Center.
But before the crew and remaining residents were forced to flee, several residents told us about what they had been doing to ready themselves.
Many in the area were still surveying how close the fire was and if they needed to leave before it became extremely apparent “now” was the time.
“We’re trying to fight the fire – the border line around the town right now – just to control it so it doesn’t burn no structures,” Chilili resident Fernando Gutierrez said.
He was filling up a water tank in the back of an old school bus he and others were using to hose down homes and other properties. They had been working tirelessly for the past several days, but were forced to leave when the flames crept closer to town.
Below is a map of the boundaries of the fire and hot spots as of 2:29 p.m. Thursday. If you’re on a mobile device, click here to view.
FIRE, SMOKE SPREAD QUICKLY
The fire exhibited extreme behavior overnight until 1 a.m., said Denise Otaviano, information officer for the Dog Head Fire. As of Wednesday night, the fire reached 5,077-plus acres in size with flames 100 feet in height, Otaviano said. At around 9:50 a.m. Thursday, the Dog Head Fire Information Facebook page said the fire grew to 12,303 acres.
The fire was first reported Tuesday around noon and has grown extremely quickly since, prompting Gov. Susana Martinez to declare a state of emergency.
The New Mexico Department of Health and the U.S. Forest Service said several cities and towns in central portion of the state will be impacted from smoke from this and other wildfires: Magdalena, Socorro, Belen, Los Lunas, Albuquerque, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, Estancia, Moriarty, Edgewood and Las Vegas.
Wind speeds were gusting up to 35 miles per hour Thursday afternoon. Officials say they expect wind speeds to weaken overnight, but anticipate winds from the south/southwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour.
For young children, adults over 65 years old, pregnant women, and people with heart disease, outdoor activities should be diminished within 5 miles of visible smoke and avoided within 3 miles. At 1 mile, all people should remain indoors unless an evacuation is called.
“Remember, your eyes are your best tools to determine if it’s safe to be outside,” according to a message from the Department of Health and the Forest Service.
Once residents leave they will not be allowed back in until the situation is resolved. At a news conference at midnight Thursday, County Commissioner Wayne Johnson urged people to take the fire seriously.
“I have to tell you if you stay in your home and you need emergency services at that time, we won’t be able to come and help you,” he said. “After this mandatory evacuation, you really need to get out of here for your own safety. Your house isn’t worth your life.”
RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS, EVACUEES
There are two public meetings scheduled for Friday for residents that have been forced to evacuate or could potentially be force to evacuate due to the fire. The first will be at 4:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Middle School in Tijeras. The second will be held at 7 p.m. at the East Torrance Soil & Water Conservation District Complex, Bldg. 700 on 10th Street in Estancia.
UnitedHealthcare members affected by the fire are urged to contact UHC at 505-205-5929 for information on possible lodging assistance.
At 3 a.m. Thursday, 15 people had taken shelter at the Los Vecinos Community Center at 478 ½ Old Highway 66 in Tijeras. The shelter is also taking animals and so far has taken in 31 including cats, dogs and chickens.
A second evacuation center is located in Estancia at the Torrance County Fairgrounds.
These are the provisions Bernalillo County have suggested residents have ready should they be forced to evacuate.
The American Red Cross New Mexico has advised people not to bring any unsolicited donations to any shelters.
People affected by the fire who need emergency laundry services can get it free of charge by contacting Carl at Fibertech Restoration at 505-342-1662.
A Dog Head Fire Support Group Facebook page has also been set up for people in need.
Posted on: June 16, 2016Blair Miller