EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Fire crews continue efforts to battle a brush fire burning near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, New Mexico, which is now at 877 acres with 70 percent containment, the New Mexico State Forestry Division announced on Wednesday, May 28.
The Camp Fire ignited on Sunday, May 25, but the cause has not been determined.
Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso.
The Forestry Division said containment continues to increase as crews make progress on securing the fire line.
The fire has not spread for several days. However, after more accurate GIS mapping the total burned acres is now 877, the Forestry Division said.
The Forestry Division said crews continue to identify and put out areas of the fire that are smoldering.
Fort Stanton Historical Site personnel have begun assessments of the damaged areas. Two wooden buildings in the internment camp area of the site were completely burned, the Forestry Division said.
The Forestry Division said a third building, a gymnasium built in the 1940s, was also affected. The roof of the gymnasium, which had collapsed previously in the 1990s, was consumed by the fire. However, the walls, which are made of adobe and concrete, are still standing. The fire did not affect the main grounds of the site.
The following list shows closed and reopened areas near the fire, according to the Forestry Division:
Open:
- Highway 220- Use caution in the Fort Stanton area as firefighters are still working in the area.
- Fort Stanton Cave Campground
Opening Thursday, May 29:
- The Fort Stanton Historical Site
- Rob Jaggers Campground
Closed:
- West Mesa Road, Red Tank Road and associate dispersed camping areas
- The surrounding BLM land will remain closed as crews continue their work in the area
Closed Trails:
- Fort Stanton North Trail
- Fort Stanton South Trail
- Deer Valley Trail
- Kit Carson Loop
- Rio Bonito Trail
- Pershing Trail
- Mustang Trail
- Antelope Gap Trail
- Elk Meadow Trail
- Skyline Trail
- Capitan Overlook Trail
- Buffalo Soldier Trail
Open Trails:
Trails on the east side of Highway 220 are open, including:
- Homestead Trail and Trail Access Loop
- East Mesa Trail
- Cave Canyon Trail
- East Well Trail
- Zamora Trail
- Cedar Crest Trail
- Lincoln Trail
The 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 outdoor welding are all prohibited.
Fire restrictions information: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/find-current-fire-restrictions/
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