News Release

Hidden Valley Fire Receives Rain

Smoldering vegetation

NPS

News Release Date: July 24, 2018

Contact: Brittney Van Der Werff, 505-205-4614

Jemez Springs, NM – On Monday evening the Hidden Valley Fire received approximately .49 inches of rain, further reducing fire behavior. The chance for monsoonal rains and thunderstorms will remain high in the afternoons through the end of the week and minimal fire behavior is predicted for the Hidden Valley Fire.

With decreased complexity, management operations have been transferred back to Valles Caldera National Preserve under a Type 4 organization. Crews will continue to focus efforts on monitoring and patrolling containment lines around the fire until the area receives significant precipitation. This will be the last update unless fire activity changes.

For the duration of the Hidden Valley Fire, the South Mountain and Hidden Valley areas of the preserve remain closed to the public.

Smoke from smoldering vegetation within the fire perimeter is expected to decrease in the following days, but may still be visible from all directions coming into the Jemez Mountains.

The lightning-caused Venado Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest continues to produce a significant amount of smoke in the area and individuals’ sensitive to smoke and people with respiratory or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health using the 5-3-1 visibility method can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health’s website https://nmtracking.org/fire or by calling 1-888-878-8992.

Fire updates are posted on the New Mexico Fire Information website at nmfireinfo.com and on @vallescaldera and www.facebook.com/vallescaldera