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Big Bend National ParkThe Chisos Mountains at sunset
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Big Bend National Park
Telephone Canyon Fire, 2006
Cars drive down to the Basin Campground as the fire burns in the background
NPS/Tom Alex
The fire burns on the other side of the gulch from the Basin Campground. Approximately 1 hour after ignition, March 8, 2006.
 

March 8/9, 2006                   38.2 acres            
During the afternoon of March 8th, 2006, at 3:45 PM high winds caused an electric power poll to break which upon striking the vegetation below ignited a wildfire. The fire began on a northern slope of the Chisos Basin nearby to the Campground and was pushed further north by high winds.

As a precaution, the Chisos Basin campground was evacuated the afternoon of March 8th. Road access to the Chisos Basin was also closed, and the backcountry campsites in the High Chisos were evacuated.

Fire fighting resources from within the park and the local area were mobilized to help with the fire on March 8th with additional resources ordered from outside the local area including a Type 3 Incident Management Team, a Hotshot Crew, a Type 6 Engine Strike Team, two helicopters and a Type II hand crew.

The fire was largely out by the morning of March 9th, and clean-up continued for an additional day. Quick action by both park staff and local resources helped prevent a much larger fire.

 
Rio Grande Village RV campground  

Did You Know?
The only full hook-up campground in Big Bend National Park is located at Rio Grande Village. Operated by Forever Resorts, the RV campground has twenty-five sites, available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Last Updated: August 12, 2006 at 15:41 EST