Acres: .10
Start Date: June 12, 2024
Location: Capitan Mountains, East Mountain
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 50%
Fuels: Single tree snag with brush understory
Personnel: 1 Type-3 engine
ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico, June 17, 2024 – The Mitt Fire, a lighting-strike fire on East Mountain (Capitan Mountains) on the Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest, continues to show little-to-no growth and remains in the original single-tree snag. The wildfire was detected on June 12, 2024, and was caused by lightning.
The fire is exhibiting low-spread potential, and the probability of impacting values is low.
At this time, a confine/contain strategy of using natural barriers based on values at risk and potential spread is being implemented. Extreme steep terrain and rocky conditions make it unsafe to engage directly. Natural land features are also providing good barriers for the wildfire.
This area historically received multiple lightning strikes per year, and personnel will continue to conduct surveillance throughout the Forest to monitor for any potential lightning-caused wildfires in the area. Throughout the weekend, several single-tree lightning-strike fires were reported and responded to by Lincoln National Forest crews.
Barring any extreme developments, this will be the final update on this incident.