The Jackson Hotshots Bureau of Land Management wildland fire crew from Jackson, Mississippi enjoys the shade late Wednesday morning at Urban Park in Los Alamos. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

The Jackson Hotshots, a Bureau of Land Management wildland fire crew from Jackson, Mississippi is one of the agencies assigned to the Poso Fire on the Carson National Forest 10 miles north of El Rito. On Wednesday morning, they left the fire area for the day because of elevated danger and spent some time in Los Alamos where they hung out for a while in the shade at Urban Park.

The Jackson Hotshots were formed in 1997 and have responded to wildland fire incidents from Florida to Alaska. They have also participated in recovery efforts for hurricanes and national disasters such as Ground Zero following 9/11 and the recovery of the Space Shuttle Columbia.  

Meanwhile, the Northern New Mexico Type-3 Incident Management Team will assume command of the Poso Fire on the Carson National Forest this evening at 9 p.m. and will reinforce lines around the management area and monitor fire behavior and growth.

As of Wednesday morning, the fire which was caused by a May 29 lightning strike, had burned some 155 acres.  Fire managers were working to reduce hazardous fuels, return fire to the ecosystem, decrease the risk high-severity wildfires in the future, and limit exposure to firefighters.

Due to the location and elevation of the fires, fire officials say smoke may be visible from the surrounding communities including Vallecitos, Ojo Caliente, Tres Piedras, La Madera and El Rito.