Wildfire — East Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

2018-06-01 to 2018-06-17 · East Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

The Ute Park Fire burned 14 outbuildings on the Philmont Scout Ranch between June 1st and June 2nd. Damage amounts are estimated.

Wider weather episode

Exceptionally dry conditions, strong southwest winds, above normal temperatures, and an unstable airmass set the stage for explosive fire growth on May 31, 2018. The Ute Park Fire was first reported just after 2 pm MDT on May 31, 2018 just south of U.S. Highway 64 in Ute Park, NM. The fire spread rapidly toward the north and east through the evening of the 31st. The fire grew to 8,000 acres during the early morning hours of June 1, 2018 and burned 12 unoccupied, non-residential structures in the Cimarroncita area of the Philmont Scout Ranch. The fire grew to over 16,000 by the evening of the 1st and burned an additional two structures. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for all nearby communities including Ute Park and Cimarron. U.S. Highway 64 was closed between Eagle Nest and Cimarron for several days. By June 2nd the fire had grown to 30,000 acres. The fire then grew more slowly to 36,740 acres before being declared 97 percent contained by June 17th. The fire burned 26,387 acres of Philmont Scout Ranch.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 748946. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.