EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Blue 2 Fire has grown 50 more acres with 0 percent containment on Thursday, May 30, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.
The fire was listed at 7,402 acres on Wednesday, May 29 and the fire is now at 7,455 acres with 0 percent containment, according to the Forestry Division.
The Forestry Division says firefighters continue to reassess and improve structure protection efforts previously put in place.
Photos: Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page
The fire was caused by lightning on May 16 and is located in the White Mountain Wilderness area which is 8 miles north of Ruidoso.
There are currently 699 personnel at the site with 41 engines, eight helicopters, 11 water tenders, and nine bulldozers assisting with the operation.
“Yesterday firefighters used aerial ignitions to conduct burnout operations in the Runnels area to improve fireline. A hotshot crew and crew of firefighters who rappelled from a helicopter worked the southeastern side of the fire to build handline to prevent advancement of fire in this area. Aerial resources were used all day to cool down hotspots near the fire’s edge and strengthen firelines created by ground crews. Crews are using existing features when possible, when creating handlines, such as trail systems, old roads, and rock formations. Hand tools, bulldozers, masticators, and aerial resources are being used to create control lines. Crews are extinguishing parts of the fireline that have been holding heat over the past few days and ensuring the area is cool to the human touch. Environmental challenges of working on this fire include inaccessibility to some areas of the fire’s edge, steep terrain, hot temperatures, and changing wind directions during the day,” the Forestry Division said.
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