Dog Head Fire Information

07/20/2016

Engines continue monitoring the Dog Head Fire. There have been no smokes observed on the Dog Head Fire fire for over 2 weeks. Dust and ash whirls continue to be reported. Please be aware, this will be a frequent event. It is important that the public understand that volunteer firefighters have been asked to respond to many false alarms within the fire area. Please do not report unless it is a verified smoke.
Also, The smoke visible this morning on the North end of the Manzano's was confirmed to be from activity on the Kirtland Air Force Base.

07/15/2016

Update on Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Activities
Albuquerque, NM, July 15, 2016 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands has been actively working with a number of other agencies and organizations as part of a coordinated effort on post-fire rehabilitation and restoration activities on all lands following the Dog Head Fire. Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) funds will be used to treat National Forest System (NFS) lands that were impacted by the Dog Head Fire. BAER activities are designed to protect critical values such as human life and safety, property, natural and cultural resources.

The Dog Head Fire burned approximately 17,912 acres, with approximately 6,600 acres on the Cibola. Soil burn severity mapping shows that roughly half of the affected NFS lands burned at a moderate level while roughly one quarter burned high and one quarter burned low or unchanged.

Much of the emergency response work on the Cibola will be accomplished in partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District, including the following:

The vault toilet at Tajique Campground, which could be affected by post-fire flows of runoff from storms, will be pumped this week to prevent contamination of waterways and prevent risk to public health.

Within the burned area, crews will prepare existing drainage structures such as culverts, water bars, and rolling dips on Forest Roads 321 and 260 to handle increased storm runoff. Storm patrols will be conducted after significant rain events and equipment will be mobilized, if necessary, to clear debris from roads and drainages. Work is scheduled to begin this week and should be complete within two weeks.

Straw bales will be used to protect archeological sites from the coming rains. Seeding and mulching will be used to minimize erosion. This work should be completed today.

Closure and hazard warning signs will be installed at key access points to minimize public exposure to hazards such as falling trees or flooding within the burned area. The signs have been ordered and will be installed by early August.

Field surveys to check for noxious and invasive weeds will be conducted along roads, dozer lines, and other impacted areas; the weeds will be removed and disposed of properly to prevent their spread. This work will be completed by the end of September.

The total costs of treatment for areas of the fire that occurred on the Cibola is approximately $200,000. All of these treatments will be monitored to determine if they were successful or if they created undesired results.

“We are working quickly to address the potential immediate post-fire risks to human life and safety, property, and critical natural and cultural resources,” said Mountainair District Ranger, Jay Turner. If you have any questions about planned BAER activities, please contact Jay Turner the Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.

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07/14/2016

The Dog Head fire is now 100% Contained. What does this mean? Containment is the status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread. This does not mean the fire is out. We still have engines patrolling the fire area and watching for any fire activity. There continues to be the possibility that interior smokes may heat up and show smoke at some point, but they are not expected to test any of the containment lines. Dust and ash whirls are also a very common daily occurrence within the fire area. Please do not report unless it is a confirmed fire threatening containment lines.

07/06/2016

Dog Head Fire – Engines continue to patrol the burned area. Fire activity has slowed significantly. Some smoke may be visible as interior islands of fuel continue to burn, but these are well within the fire’s perimeter. The fire is still 98% contained.

07/05/2016

Update on the Dog Head Fire

Albuquerque, NM, July 4, 2016 – Fire activity was minimal on both the North and Dog Head fires this Fourth of July weekend. Most of the assigned crews, equipment, and support resources have been released.

The Dog Head Fire, located on the Mountainair Ranger District, is 98% contained. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been working to protect the impacted area from erosion and further damage; restoration work will continue through this week. Two engines continue to patrol and mop up hot spots as needed. Smoke is occasionally visible, but the burning vegetation is well within the fire’s interior. A Type 4 Incident Commander is managing the operation with support from both State and federal resources.

07/01/2016

Now that the facts have been gathered, we can verify that the Dog Head wildfire originated from a masticator which is a machine that shreds small trees to reduce the amount of hazardous fuels in the forest. We were unable to provide information about the cause of the fire while the cause was under investigation. "We offer our sincere condolences to those who lost their homes, their livelihood, and part of this mountain that people also call home. As a partner, we share in your grief and acknowledge the impacts that the fire has caused to your families, your communities and your hearts."

07/01/2016

The Forest Service is currently holding a news conference to share the key facts about the start of the Dog Head fire, the initial response, and the rehabilitation efforts.

06/29/2016

TYPE 4 TEAM IN COMMAND
DOG HEAD FIRE UPDATE – 6/29/2016,
Acres: 17,912
Containment: 95%
Cause: Human - under investigation
Start Date: June 14, 2016
Jurisdiction: Cibola National Forest, NM State Forestry, Southern Pueblo Agency/BIA, BLM
Location: 6 miles NW of Tajique, NM
Vegetation: Heavy fuels, dead and down timber, ponderosa pine stands
Damage Assessment: 12 single residences and 44 other minor structures
Total Personnel: 181
Albuquerque, NM - A Type 4 Team, led by Incident Commander Matt Petersen, assumed command of the fire at 6:00 p.m. last night. This will be the final update from the Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Incident Command Team. All future news releases will be from the Cibola National Forest Supervisors Office. If you need additional information about the Dog Head Fire, please call 505-346-3900 to leave your name and phone number; an Information Officer will call you back.
Operations will in large remain the same for the next couple of days. Firefighters and heavy equipment will continue to rehabilitate dozer line on the east perimeter of the fire. Once the heavy equipment work is completed, crews will concentrate on mop-up and patrol.
While we know that the Dog Head Fire was human caused, the investigation is still ongoing. More information about the cause of the fire will be released once the details are confirmed.

The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy conditions again with a very slight chance of showers and afternoon thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures will be 81-86, and the relative humidity will be 25-30%. Winds will be 5 - 10 mph until late morning; southeast winds will be 7-10 mph thereafter, growing gusty and erratic with the afternoon thunderstorms.
The strategy for this fire is and has always been full suppression. Incident objectives include providing for the safety of firefighters and the public while protecting values at risk, providing support for on-going recovery efforts, and planned re-entry into closed areas.

For more information, please visit http://inciweb.nwcg.gov, http://nmfireinfo.com, http://facebook.com/dogheadfire/, http://twitter.com/dogheadfireinfo

06/28/2016

BEGIN TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE DISTRICT
DOG HEAD FIRE UPDATE – 6/28/2016, 8:00
Acres: 17,912
Containment: 91%
Cause: Human - under investigation
Start Date: June 14, 2016
Jurisdiction: Cibola National Forest, NM State Forestry, Southern Pueblo Agency/BIA, BLM
Location: 6 miles NW of Tajique, NM
Vegetation: Heavy fuels, dead and down timber, ponderosa pine stands
Damage Assessment: 12 single residences and 44 other minor structures
Total Personnel: 210
Today a Type 4 organization will shadow the Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Team, and assume command of the fire tomorrow.

Firefighters and heavy equipment will continue rehabilitating dozer line on the east perimeter of the fire. The north and west perimeter of the fire will be unstaffed. Additional crews will continue to demobilize as tasks are completed.

Today’s weather calls for partly cloudy skies in the morning hours – a continuation of yesterday’s clouds and overnight thunderstorms. It will remain partly cloudy in the afternoon with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5:00 p.m. Rain activity will likely be to the east.

The strategy for this fire is and has always been full suppression. Incident objectives include providing for the safety of firefighters and the public while protecting values at risk, providing support for on-going recovery efforts and planned re-entry into closed areas.

Fire Information (8am – 8pm): 855-585-5546
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov, http://nmfireinfo.com, http://facebook.com/dogheadfire/, http://twitter.com/dogheadfireinfo

06/27/2016

REHABILITATION NEARING COMPLETION
DOG HEAD FIRE UPDATE – 6/27/2016
Acres: 17,912
Containment: 90%
Cause: Human - under investigation
Start Date: June 14, 2016
Jurisdiction: Cibola National Forest, NM State Forestry, Southern Pueblo Agency/BIA, BLM
Location: 6 miles NW of Tajique, NM
Vegetation: Heavy fuels, dead and down timber, ponderosa pine stands
Damage Assessment: 12 single residences and 44 other minor structures
Total Personnel: 266
Rehabilitation has been completed on the north and west side of the fire perimeter. Firefighters will continue to patrol the west perimeter. The majority of the work remains on the east side of the fire perimeter where the excavators are working on rehabilitate dozer line.
With the majority of the work done on the hand line rehabilitation, crews will begin the demobilization process today. Crews remaining will continue mop-up and rehabilitate dozer and hand line.

Today’s weather prediction is mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m., temperatures from 80-84 degrees, and relative humidity 38-43%. Terrain dominated winds less than 6 to 12 mph in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds expected neat thunderstorms.
The strategy for this fire is full suppression. Incident objectives include providing for the safety of firefighters and the public, while protecting values at risk, and providing support for on-going utility recovery efforts, evacuations and planned re-entry into closed areas.

Fire Information (8am – 8pm): 855-585-5546
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov, http://nmfireinfo.com, http://facebook.com/dogheadfire/, http://twitter.com/dogheadfireinfo

06/26/2016

FIRE ACTIVITY AT A LOW, REHABILITAION DANGERS HIGH
DOG HEAD FIRE UPDATE – 6/26/2016,
Acres: 17,912
Containment: 90%
Cause: Human - under investigation
Start Date: June 14, 2016
Jurisdiction: Cibola National Forest, NM State Forestry, Southern Pueblo Agency/BIA, BLM
Location: 6 miles NW of Tajique, NM
Vegetation: Heavy fuels, dead and down timber, ponderosa pine stands
Damage Assessment: 12 single residences and 44 other minor structures
Total Personnel: 276
Please be mindful now that the roads are open that there are many dangers especially near the perimeter of the fire. For those that want to take a look at the fire, home owners or general public, please watch for the firefighters, downed power lines, and please keep your driving speed down.
Rehabilitation in the west and southwest fire perimeter are close to completion. The majority of the work is on the east edge of the fire, firefighters are remaining vigilant in the multiple tasks at hand, rehabilitating dozer and hand line, mop-up, and patrol.

Today’s weather prediction is mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms likely, temperatures from 78-83 degrees. Relative humidity 38-43%. Winds out of the southeast 6-10 miles per hour through late morning increasing to 9-14 miles per hour in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds are expected near thunderstorms.
No additional public meetings are planned unless there is a significant change in fire conditions.
The strategy for this fire is full suppression. Incident objectives include providing for the safety of firefighters and the public, while protecting values at risk, and providing support for on-going utility recovery efforts, evacuations and planned re-entry into closed areas.
Please remember, if you fly, we can’t. Drones near wildfires are not safe. Visit http://www.nifc.gov/drones/ for more information.

Fire Information (8am – 8pm): 855-585-5546
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov, http://nmfireinfo.com, http://facebook.com/dogheadfire/, http://twitter.com/dogheadfireinfo

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), generally called drones, are gaining in popularity. Although drones are fun to fly, they can be deadly if flown near wildfires. Drones can interfere with wildland fire air traffic, such as air tankers, helicopters, and other firefighting aircraft that are necessary t...

06/25/2016

Dog Head Fire Press Conference