Spring Fire reached 17 acres before containment

A wildfire ignited at about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 was contained Feb. 6 near Hay Canyon Road and Chiquita Road near Sacramento.

The fire was deemed a human-caused structure fire which spread to burn about 17 acres of private land and public land inside the Lincoln National Forest.

"The Spring Fire remains at 17 acres thanks to the efforts of local and federal firefighters who worked through the night to complete fire line around the fire perimeter," Lincoln National Forest Spokeswoman Laura Rabon said on Feb. 6.

The firefighting resources used were two type-6 engines, numerous volunteer fire departments, miscellaneous personnel, one bulldozer and water tenders.

The fuels burned in the Spring Fire were ponderosa pine and grasses.

One structure was lost in the Spring Fire.

"With most of New Mexico in extreme drought, the 2021 fire season has the potential to begin early, as we have just seen," Rabon said.

To prepare for the 2021 wildfire season, Rabon suggests residents in wildland areas to resolve to do the following before the end of February:

Remove dead branches, pine needles and excess vegetation from at least 5 feet around your home. Develop an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact. Take photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online. Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies. Keep and update emergency supplies, including cash. Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage. Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like wildfire and floods. Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes. Sign up for emergency alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA app or check with your city or county government to see if they have an alert and notification system in place.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Spring Fire reached 17 acres before containment

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