U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

What's happening with the Las Conchas fire?

[UPDATE] 07.08.2011, 12:20pm MST: The Las Conchas wildfire is over 139,000 acres and is 40% contained.  Please listen to local news sources or the U.S. Forest Service's incident website for accurate, up-to-date information.  This page will be updated but not over the course of the weekend and might not contain the most recent alerts and evacuation information.

Daily information meetings are held at 3:00pm at the La Cueva Fire Station #2 in Jemez Springs, NM.

Members of the public can call the New Mexico Department of Health with health questions or concerns related to the fire at 1.877.725.2552.

• Individuals concerned about structures within the burned area of Sandoval County can call the county office at 505.867.0245.

Please visit the New Mexico Department of Transportation's website for information on road closures.

Refer to the Forest Service incident site for more information.

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[UPDATE] 07.07.2011, 11:15am MST: The Las Conchas wildfire is nearly 137,000 acres and is 40% contained. Please listen to local news sources or the U.S. Forest Service's incident website for accurate, up-to-date information.  This page will be updated but might not contain the most recent alerts and evacuation information.

There will be a community meeting tonight, Thursday, July 7, at 6:30pm at the Cañones Community Center in Cañones, NM. Daily information meetings are held at 3:00pm at the La Cueva Fire Station #2 in Jemez Springs, NM.

Members of the public can call the New Mexico Department of Health with health questions or concerns related to the fire at 1.877.725.2552.

• Individuals concerned about structures within the burned area of Sandoval County can call the county office at 505.867.0245.

Please visit the New Mexico Department of Transportation's website for information on road closures.

Many parks and recreational ground in the north have been close in full or in part:

• The Valles Caldera National Preserve is closed. Visitors can seek more information on their website.
• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has closed sites within Pecos Canyon, including Bert Clancey, Terrero, Jamie Koch, Mora River, and Monastery Lake. See the Department's webpage for more information.
• The New Mexico State Parks Division has closed Hyde Memorial, Fenton Lake, Morphy Lake, Coyote Creek, and Cimarron Canyon State Parks. See the State Parks' website for more information.
• The Bureau of Land Management has closed the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. See the BLM's website for more information.
• The National Park Service has closed Bandelier National Monument indefinitely. See the NPS's website for more information.

Refer to the Forest Service incident site for more information. 

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[UPDATE] 06.30.2011, 01:10pm MST: The Las Conchas wildfire is over 92,000 acres and is 3% contained. Please listen to local news sources or the U.S. Forest Service's incident website for accurate, up-to-date information. This page will be updated but might not contain the most recent alerts and evacuation information.

[Continue]

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The Las Conchas wildfire started Sunday in the Santa Fe National Forest, approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos. Because the Las Conchas fire is close to several cities and towns, and to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), please listen to local news sources or the U.S. Forest Service's incident website for accurate, up-to-date information. This page will be updated but might not contain the most recent alerts and evacuation information.

As of this afternoon, the fire was nearly 70,000 acres and was 3% contained.

• Currently, evacuation orders are in place for Los Alamos County, Cochiti Mesa, Las Conchas, Bandelier National Monument, and campgrounds near the fire.
• White Rock is under voluntary evacuation.
• Road closures: NM 4 is closed at the Jemez Falls Campground and at NM 510. NM502 westbound into Los Alamos is closed.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been closed due to the threat of fire and will remain closed Thursday, as well; all radioactive material has been appropriately accounted for and is protected. LANL employees should check local news, the LANL Update Hotline (505.677.6622), or the LANL website (www.lanl.gov) for updates. There are some radioactive materials, called legacy wastes, which are in the process of being moved off-site to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and other sites. The laboratory takes thorough measures to protect these materials from harm by the fire.  Other radioactive materials that are not wastes, and so are not in the process of being moved off-site, are in thick structures designed to withstand outside fires.

Smoke is heavy and has been visible in many areas in the state. The New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Environment Department have advised people to take precautions to avoid adverse reactions to the smoke because of poor air quality.

• If you have questions about health-related issues due to smoke, please call the New Mexico Nurse Advice Line at 1.877.725.2552.

New Mexicans from all across our state have reported heavy smoke. Prolonged exposure to smoke can be dangerous for humans and for animals. Please take every precaution to avoid breathing smoky air; smoke particulate can have serious, long-term effects on your lungs. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some basic tips on wildfire preparedness and response, highlights include:

• Pay attention to local air quality reports and visibility guides. If heavy smoke is visible or can be smelled, avoid outdoor activity and close windows and doors, and remain indoors.
• People with heart or lung disease, respiratory problems, older adults, and children should remain indoors.
• If conditions create a health emergency, call 911 or seek medical attention at the nearest medical facility.

This page will be updated regularly but may not contain the most recent information. Please tune in to local news stations or check the Forest Services's incident site for the most recent information on the Las Conchas fire.