Uvas Fire update: June 11, 2020

Location: Uvas Mountains on BLM Land, approximately 11 miles SW of Hatch, NM and 18 miles N of Interstate 10 between Deming and Las Cruces, NM.

Date detected: June 6, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Grass, Brush, Pinon, Juniper

Current size: 1,135 acres (increase of 5 acres from previous reports is due to more accurate mapping)

Percent contained: 55%

Summary: The Uvas Fire was started by lightning from a thunderstorm that moved over the southern portion of New
Mexico on the evening of June 5th. The fire was detected the next day, as smoke became very visible from Hatch and travelers along I-10, and I-25. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted as BLM fire engines mobilized to the area.

When first detected, the fire was burning along the top of the mountain range at an elevation of 6500 ft., surrounded by
steep, rugged terrain.

Resources: 2 Engines with 6 firefighters, Type 3 Helicopter with 4 personnel and two additional firefighting personnel.

Today: As the Uvas Fire’s complexity lessens, the transfer of command from a Type 3 Organization to a Type 4 Organization occurred at 7:00 am. Firefighters will continue to work on containment of the Uvas Fire. A helicopter and crew are being assigned to the incident today. Their mission will be to assist firefighters on the ground by conducting water drops on hot spots and they will monitor inaccessible portions of the fire over the next several days.

Although smoke emissions from the fire have lessened significantly, light drift smoke may still be visible from: Hatch, Las Cruces and surrounding areas, as well as I-10 (between Deming and Las Cruces) and I-25 (south of T or C)

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority on the Uvas Fire.

For additional information, please visit or call the following:
• Uvas Fire Information phone line: 575-525-4360
• Uvas Fire on INCIWEB at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
• Uvas Fire on NMFIREINFO at https://nmfireinfo.com/