A helicopter drops water over a hot spot on a fire in Los Alamos Canyon Sunday afternoon. Photo by Bill Purtyman, Emergency Management and Response (S-8)
A 1.25-acre wild-land fire in Los Alamos Canyon near Technical Area 41, believed sparked by a power line short, is completely encircled by a fire line this morning, as is a second slightly larger blaze in the region of TA-2.
"Everyone did a great job in the initial attack," said Manny L'Esperance, of Emergency Management and Response (S-8). "The system worked."
Four Los Alamos fire units, a hot-shot crew from Santa Fe and a Jemez hand crew all responded to the blaze that began at 2:18 p.m. Sunday. Helicopter aerial water drops helped fire crews address hot spots and slow the fire's east-to-west, up-canyon spread that had the potential to affect homes and businesses on the mesa top above. The water for the helicopter's initial drops came from water tanks set up at TA-49 on Saturday, just in time to battle the Sunday afternoon fires.
"The Type 3 fire restrictions the Lab implemented on Friday are in place for a reason," L'Esperance said, urging all Laboratory employees to be aware of the extreme fire danger and avoid any activities that could spark additional wild-land fires. The all-employee memo last Friday indicated the Laboratory has experienced fires in wooded areas believed caused by careless smoking.
Los Alamos Canyon is closed to all vehicle traffic from east of the Otowi Bridge. Only emergency vehicle traffic is being allowed; motorists can still travel on the Otowi Bridge over the canyon.
A Saturday afternoon lightening strike at TA-33 briefly ignited a fire; quick crew response kept that blaze confined to a 10-ft. by 10-ft. area. The two Los Alamos Canyon blazes of 1.25 and 3.6 acres, are expected to be fully under control later today. Crews from both the Los Alamos Fire Department and Protection Technology Los Alamos kept watch on the fire overnight.
"We'll be watching for sleepers throughout the day," L'Esperance said, referring to additional fires that may have been set by overnight lightning. He urged any Laboratory employee who sees smoke or active fire to call 911 immediately and, if time permits, to follow that call with one to the S-8 at 7-6211.
For information on additional restrictions imposed by the Lab, see today's Daily Newsbulletin.