Wildfire — East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

2023-05-10 to 2023-05-15 · East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

The Las Tusas Fire was discovered May 10, 2023 around 4 pm MDT just west of Sapello. The fire caused mandatory evacuations and burned several structures. Total acreage burned was 978 acres.

Wider weather episode

A wildfire ignited in the town of Sapello, NM just outside of the recent Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar. The fire was discovered around 4 pm MDT along Highway 94 just west of Sapello. The fire resulted in road closures, mandatory evacuations for residents in Canoncito through May 12, 2023, and structures burned. A red flag warning was in effect for this area at the time of ignition for critical fire weather conditions. The fire was ninety percent contained by May 15, 2023 as calmer winds and higher moisture settled in.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1092339. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.