Wildfire in South Central Mountains, New Mexico

Emergency management reported the unfortunate and tragic crash of a King Air medical transport aircraft in the northern slopes of the Capitan Mountains during the early morning hours of May 14th, originally en route to the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport. There were 4 deaths associated with the crash. The Seven Cabins Wildfire began from this crash, with an initial threat to a communication site and corral on forest service lands. The fire perimeter is almost entirely within the Lincoln National Forest along the Capitan Mountains in Lincoln County. Closures on area highways stretched from NM Highway 246 to the north to Forest Road 57 to the south. Peak personnel responding to the fire reached over 1100 individuals during late May with full suppression and offensive strategies as the fire had several days of a very active smoke plume. The fire eventually grew to 31,860 acres by June 2nd, but was under control by the end of May.

Modest moisture across eastern NM, coupled with increased dry southwesterly flow May 14th to produce abundant dry lightning strikes across east-central and northeastern NM. The critical fire weather conditions allowed these fires to rapidly spread and make wind-driven runs. The dry lightning starts included the Mimms and Line, and likely the Black Mesa Trail wildfires. The Black Mesa Trail wildfire was reported have quickly moved across the state line into OK before reaching a notable size in NM. A fourth wildfire called the Range fire was reported in Roosevelt County with an unknown cause. A fifth wildfire in Lincoln County was an unfortunate start from a downed airplane in the northern slopes of the Capitan Mountains north of Ruidoso, named the Seven Cabins Wildfire.