SANTA FE – The Seven Springs Fire, burning on Mescalero Apache Tribal land, is expected to bring heavy smoke that will create moderate to unhealthy air conditions for sensitive groups in the area today.
The fire, currently estimated at 350 acres, began Tuesday in Nogal Canyon. While 0% contained, it is not currently threatening the village of Mescalero. Today’s wind forecast indicates that most areas affected will experience moderate air quality through most of the day – including Mescalero, High Rolls, Cloudcroft, and Alamogordo.
The village of La Luz, south of the fire, will experience unhealthy air through the afternoon for sensitive groups, which means children, older adults, active people and people with lung disease (such as asthma) should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
Weather forecasts show air quality is expected to improve later in the day into tomorrow depending on any changes in fire activity and wind.
Visit https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html to learn how to use the 5-3-1 visibility method and get practical health tips for smoky days.
- If visibility is under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness and they should reduce outdoor activity.
- If visibility is under 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illnesses should stay inside.
- If visibility is under 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone and everyone should stay inside. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter.
For more information on the Seven Springs fire or other wildfires active in the state, visit the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s state fire dashboard at https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/current-wildfire-information/.
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