Situation: Containment lines on the Oakmont fire held throughout the day, despite high wind gusts, hot temperatures and low relative humidity. As of 5 p.m. the fire’s containment is 30%. Total fire acreage has been downgraded to 65 acres, following a re-walk of the fire’s perimeter. Bulldozers are continuing to strengthen the containment lines and hand crews and engine crews are mopping up, which means they are working to extinguish the last of the heat in the interior. The Smokey Bear Hotshot crew will demobilize at end of today’s shift; Sacramento Hotshots will remain staffed through the evening. This will be the last notification today unless there are significant changes.

The Oakmont Fire was discovered at 12:28 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2024; it is located in Timberon, NM. The fire is burning in a mixture of pinon, juniper and pine fuels within a populated neighborhood. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Resources: 130 total personnel are responding, including Forestry Division, Rio Grande Type 2IA engines; the US Forest Service; Timberon FD; Smokey Bear and Sacramento IHC Hotshot Crews. No aircraft were needed for today’s actions.

Weather: Currently, the temperature is 86 degrees with winds from the southwest at 17 mph; gusts up to 29 mph. Relative humidity is 6%. A Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch are both in effect until 9 p.m. today for the area.  This evening’s low will be around 40 degrees. Southwest winds will become east/northeast 8-17 mph. Tomorrow’s high near 72; east wind 8-13 mph becoming southwest 18-23 mph in the afternoon.

Evacuations/ Closures: Otero County lifted their mandatory evacuation order at 12 p.m. today. Road closures put into effect last night in the area will also be lifted. Residents should take precautions near the fire area.

Smoke: Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Learn more at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Internet/ Social Media: The public can continue to follow fires in New Mexico on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and New Mexico Forestry Division’s X account and Facebook. Fires can also be viewed through the New Mexico Forest & Watershed Institute’s Fire Viewer.