EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Fire crews dropped over 30,000 gallons of fire retardant on the Camp Fire on Sunday, May 25, near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
The New Mexico State Forestry Division says the fire is still at 350 acres with 0 percent containment as of Monday morning, May 26. However, crews expect to see an increase in containment as the day progresses.
Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso.
The Forestry Division says firefighters and air support crews responded to the Camp Fire on Sunday.
Six large air tankers, two single-engine air tankers, one type-1 helicopter, and one type-3 helicopter responded to the fire along with several fire crews.
Crews dropped 32,000 gallons of fire retardant at strategic locations around the fire on Sunday, the Forestry Division said.
Fire crews will construct a fire line on the north side of the fire and will continue to secure the fire line created on Sunday on the south side.
The Forestry Division says fire activity has decreased compared to Sunday.
Temperatures will reach 75 degrees on Monday, and cloud coverage is expected in the afternoon. There is a chance of rain on Tuesday, May 27, the Forestry Division said.
The area affected by the fire is a managed area by the BLM and the State of New Mexico. The BLM Managed land is part of the Fort Stanton, Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, and the state land involved in the fire is the historic fort, managed by the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Division.
The Forestry Division says three historical structures were damaged at Fort Stanton.
“Fort Stanton is one of the most intact 19th-century military forts in the country and is the best-preserved fort in New Mexico. One other outbuilding was damaged in the fire,” the Forestry Division said.
Evacuations are still in place for the Ft. Stanton and surrounding campgrounds off of Highway 220 between US 380 and the Devils Canyon turn off.
Highway 220 is closed in the Fort Stanton area. Please stay away from the fire area to allow fire personnel quick access to the fire.
“BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County, and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads, and welding are all prohibited,” the Forestry Division said.
To view full fire restrictions, click here: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/find-current-fire-restrictions/.
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