By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The fire started on Dept of Defense (DOD) jurisdiction, within the Ft. Bliss Dona Ana Range 50. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing resources to assist with the firefighting effort. An estimated 3500 acres has already burned and air crews can be seen flying overhead fighting the blaze, which officials have categorized as a human-caused fire.
The BLM has assigned the following interagency resources:
20 Smokejumpers; 1 Type 3 Engine and 1 Type 6 Engine
4 Airtankers and 1 Large Helicopter (Helitanker)
Total no. of personnel: 45
The Long Canyon fire is burning in rough, rugged terrain in the Organ Mountains, just south of the Ft. Bliss 2 fire, which was 80% contained last week by firefighting crews and aerial resources.
The Long Canyon fire started in Range 50 and burned into Long Canyon initially it was about one mile south of the Ft. Bliss 2 fire. The fire has been actively burning in unburned fuel south and west of the Ft. Bliss 2 fire; the fire is also spreading north.
BLM says resources will continue to provide and support firefighting efforts and will implement strategies and tactics that will focus on firefighter and public safety.