Latest news with #FortStanton
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Wildfire damages historic Fort Stanton, forces evacuations in New Mexico
A wildfire swept through portions of a civil war-era fort and historical site in southern New Mexico on Monday, forcing the evacuations of campgrounds and a horse ranch. The fire damaged structures at Fort Stanton historical site built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and a gym erected by Germans interned at the site during World War II after their ship sank. Ground crews, air tankers and helicopters joined efforts to contain a blaze that scorched more than a square mile (3 square kilometers) of terrain at the site and surrounding conservation lands managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Laura Rabon, a spokesperson for a multiagency team responding to the situation, said crews cleared lines of vegetation Monday on the north side of the wildfire and helicopters doused smoldering hot spots with water. The fire was contained along 4% of its boundary. The blaze at Fort Stanton is about 15 miles (24km) away from communities at Ruidoso that were ravaged by wildfires last year when several hundred homes and businesses were destroyed. Those fires were followed by devastating flooding and erosion in scorched areas. Separately in Arizona, more than 500 firefighters and support personnel had largely contained the boundaries of a wildfire northeast of Tucson, in the Santa Catalina mountains, that has destroyed five homes in the community of Oracle. Evacuations were rescinded in some residential areas – but not all – on Monday. Fire activity at Fort Stanton decreased amid mild high temperatures Monday of 75F (24C) and 10 mph (16 kph) winds. The source of the fire was unknown, with a BLM investigator scheduled to begin work on Tuesday. Horses and a family of four were first evacuated on Sunday from a private ranch in the vicinity, but they had been allowed to return. On Sunday, air tankers dropped fire retardant on the outskirts of the fire in efforts to slow its progress. Highway 220 was closed near Fort Stanton to ensure access for firefighting crews, as more than 70 people fought the fire. Fort Stanton historical site was closed, and three nearby camping areas were evacuated.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Camp Fire now at 720 acres, 4% contained
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A brush fire burning near Fort Stanton in Lincoln County is now at 720 acres with 4 percent containment, the New Mexico State Forestry Division announced on Monday, May 26. Crews drop over 30K gallons of fire retardant on Camp Fire The fire ignited on Sunday, May 25, but the cause has not been determined. Fort Stanton is about 30 miles northeast of Ruidoso. Camp Fire burning in Lincoln County near Fort Stanton The Forestry Division said most of the burned acres occurred on Sunday, as there was minimal fire spread on Monday. Helicopters made targeted water drops on hot spots still smoldering. Fire crews worked to remove burning material near the control lines to reduce the chance of it escaping the control lines and reigniting. Smoke could still be seen in the area, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said the area affected by the fire is a specially managed area by the BLM and the State of New Mexico. The BLM-managed land is part of the Fort Stanton- Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area, and the state land involved in the fire is the historic fort, managed by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Three historical structures were damaged at Fort Stanton, including two wooden structures from the 1930s built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and a gymnasium built in 1944 by German sailors who were picked up after their ship sunk, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said cloud cover, moderate temperatures, and milder winds helped to moderate fire behavior on Monday. A thunderstorm warning is in effect for the area Monday evening, and there is a chance of rain again on Tuesday afternoon, May 27, the Forestry Division said. The Forestry Division said evacuations remain for the Fort Stanton, Rob Jaggers Campground, and the Rio Bonito and West Mesa Road dispersed camping areas. Fort Stanton is closed to the public. Highway 220 is closed in the Fort Stanton area, the Forestry Division said. 'BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and welding are all prohibited,' read the news release by the Forestry Division. To view full fire restrictions, click here. Additionally, an interactive smoke map here allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Wildfire damages Civil War-area historical site in New Mexico as campgrounds are evacuated
In this photo provided by the Fort Stanton Historic Site, destruction from the Camp Fire, which damaged several historic buildings at Fort Stanton, a historic site managed by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is seen Monday, May 26, 2025, in Fort Stanton, N.M. (Oliver Horn/Fort Stanton Historic Site via AP)
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Wildfire damages Civil War-area historical site in New Mexico as campgrounds are evacuated
Campgrounds and a horse ranch were evacuated Monday as wildfire swept through a Civil War-era historical site in southern New Mexico. Ground crews, air tankers and helicopters joined efforts to contain a blaze that damaged several buildings at the Fort Stanton Historical Site, authorities said. The wildfire scorched more than a half square mile (1.4 square kilometers) of terrain at the site and surrounding conservation lands managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Three Fort Stanton structures were damaged, said Laura Rabon, a spokesperson for a multi-agency team responding to the situation. It was unclear which buildings were hit by fire. An advisory from the historical site said the fire entered a former World War II internment camp. Rabon said the fire was uncontained as crews cleared lines of vegetation on the north side of the wildfire and helicopters doused smoldering hot spots with water. The blaze at Fort Stanton is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away from communities at Ruidoso that were ravaged by wildfires last year when several hundred homes and businesses were destroyed. Those fires were followed by devastating flooding and erosion in scorched areas. Fire activity at Fort Stanton decreased amid mild high temperatures Monday of 75 degrees (24 Celsius) and 10 mph (16 kph) winds. The source of the fire was unknown, with a BLM investigator scheduled to begin work Tuesday. Horses and a family of four were evacuated Sunday from a private ranch in the vicinity, but they had been allowed to return. On Sunday, air tankers dropped fire retardant on the outskirts of the fire in efforts to slow its progress. Highway 220 was closed near Fort Stanton to ensure access for firefighting crews. Three camping areas were evacuated and closed.
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Wildfire damages Civil War-area historical site in New Mexico as campgrounds are evacuated
SANTA FE, N.M. — Campgrounds and a horse ranch were evacuated Monday as wildfire swept through a Civil War-era historical site in southern New Mexico. Ground crews, air tankers and helicopters joined efforts to contain a blaze that damaged several buildings at the Fort Stanton Historical Site, authorities said. The wildfire scorched more than a half square mile (1.4 square kilometers) of terrain at the site and surrounding conservation lands managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management.
