NEWS
New Mexico wildfires force evacuations, threaten structures
The McCauley Springs Fire burns near Jemez Springs, and the Canyon Venado Fire near Clines Corners
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A wildfire near Jemez Springs forced evacuations and campground closures Wednesday morning as crews battled the blaze.
The McCauley Springs Fire, just north of Jemez Springs, grew to 150 acres after being discovered early Wednesday, according to a news release from Santa Fe National Forest spokeswoman Claudia Brookshire.
The Sierra de los Pinos community has been ordered to evacuate, and evacuation centers were set up at the Jemez Senior Center and the Jemez Mountain Baptist Church in nearby La Cueva.
The Jemez Falls and Redondo campgrounds were evacuated, and Battleship Campground and Trail No. 137 are closed, Brookshire said.
Highway 4 is closed between mile marker 27 and mile marker 40, she said. Los Alamos County, roughly 20 miles from the fire, remains in a 鈥渞eady鈥� status, meaning residents should pack their belongings and prepare for a potential evacuation.
鈥淭he fire is being fully suppressed and is demonstrating a high potential for spread,鈥� Brookshire said. 鈥淪moke is visible from Albuquerque, U.S. 550, Jemez Springs and surrounding communities.鈥�
Three specialized wildland fire handcrews are responding, along with two helicopters and additional aerial resources, she said.
YMCA Camp Shaver evacuated all campers and staff members, families and guardians were asked to pick up their children at Jemez Valley High School on Wednesday afternooon.
鈥淲e understand this situation may be concerning,鈥� the camp wrote in a social media post. 鈥淧lease know that the safety and well-being of our campers and staff remains our highest priority.鈥�
Hummingbird Music Camp is safe and not under evacuation orders, according to owner and director Sally Chapman. An estimated 120 people are at the camp, and Chapman said she is not yet concerned about the fire.
鈥淲e鈥檙e watching it and we have an evacuation plan ready to execute,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have buses ready to come get us and right now we don鈥檛 feel like we are in danger so we鈥檙e not evacuating at this moment.鈥�
In a message posted on the camp鈥檚 website, Chapman told families of current campers that the children鈥檚 safety was the utmost concern. She said campers have practiced evacuation procedures and families will be immediately contacted if an evacuation occurs.
Chapman told the Journal she could see plumes of smoke from the camp, along with aircraft flying toward the fire to help with suppression efforts. She said the fire appeared to be moving northeast, away from the camp.
Torrance County fire
While firefighters work to contain the McCauley Springs Fire, another fire that shut down an interstate remains a threat.
The Canyon Venado Fire, which sparked in Torrance County near Clines Corners just after noon Tuesday, was uncontained as of Wednesday morning. The blaze is an estimated 852 acres, according to a news release from New Mexico State Forestry Division spokesperson George Ducker.
Eastbound Interstate 40 has reopened, he said. The fire is burning grass and pi帽on-juniper.
On Tuesday, crews worked to drop retardant, and crews have reinforced boundaries to protect structures, Ducker said. Wind farms and other structures remain under threat.
鈥淭oday, crews are continuing to protect structures and building and securing fire line, tying into wind farm roads,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ir resources will be utilized depending on fire activity throughout the day.鈥�
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Ducker added.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
