Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
At least 100 dead, major disaster declared after catastrophic Texas flood. Read the latest Chevron right
Flash flood threat to continue in central Texas into midweek. Get details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

76°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

76°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

Hot, dry weather poses challenges as Ute Park Fire remains twice the size of Manhattan

By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather senior editor

Published Jun 5, 2018 2:30 PM EDT | Updated Jul 10, 2019 1:51 PM EDT

Copied

Critical fire weather is forecast in the coming days in the Southwest as firefighters work to contain the Ute Park Fire, which has been burning for over a week in northern New Mexico.

The blaze, which erupted May 31, has charred close to 37,000 acres as of Thursday evening. Fire crews were able to gain significant ground on the fire on Thursday, with containment up to 66 percent.

The Ute Fire is burning near the village of Cimarron, where a mandatory evacuation had been issued last week.

However, the increased containment allowed evacuation orders to be lifted in Cimarron and the immediate surrounding area on Monday. Ute Park and areas north of state Highway 204 remain closed and under evacuation orders.

ute park fire 6/4/2018

(Photo/New Mexico Department of Health)

"The fire threat to Cimarron has been minimized; however, there are still some concerns. Air quality will continue to be an issue as the Ute Park Fire is expected to burn for some time. The winds will change over the course of this fire, and there will be a smoke presence," officials said on Monday.

Water quality is also a concern, as the Cimarroncito Reservoir and surrounding water shed did sustain fire damage, officials said.

Ute Park 6.8 AM

No residences have been lost due to the fire; however, 14 outbuildings were destroyed on Philmont Scout Ranch, home to the Boy Scouts of America.

While the base area of the ranch has been deemed safe, officials with the ranch have canceled a number of scheduled hiking expeditions.

RELATED:

How forest fires play an essential role in natural life cycles of plants, wildlife
How to prepare for wildfires so you can escape safely if a blaze approaches

“At this time, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all backcountry treks that were scheduled to take place in the Philmont backcountry from June 8 – July 14, 2018,” officials said. “We hope that backcountry treks may resume after July 14, 2018, with altered itineraries, assuming the backcountry is safe and infrastructure is restored.”

Over 600 firefighting personnel are on hand working to contain the fire. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Air tankers are cool. #UteParkFire #helicopter #wildfire #nmwx pic.twitter.com/tP1XqglDM1

— Geoff Cornish (@StormOfCorn) June 5, 2018

AccuWeather On-Air Meteorologist Geoff Cornish reported live from New Mexico this week, covering the latest developments on the Ute Fire.

Record-challenging heat has expanded across the central United States this week and has put firefighters on alert for any new wildfires to ignite.

“The hot, dry conditions will also increase the threat for additional wildfires across the region,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.

"Winds will peak during the afternoon hours," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey. "This weather [through Friday] is pretty typical for the West this time of year, with the most progress on fires being made during the evening and morning hours."

Static SW Fire Weekend

The worst time for additional wildfire spread will be during the afternoon as winds can gust up to 20 mph, according to Duffey.

There is the risk of locally strong winds kick up this weekend, which will threaten to fan ongoing blazes or spark new ones.

Weather Photojournalist @BlakeNaftel at work, covering the #UteParkFire in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico. #nmwx pic.twitter.com/JpTJOIleFq

— Geoff Cornish (@StormOfCorn) June 6, 2018

From the #UteParkFire. While firefighting efforts have greatly slowed the spread of the fire this week (still 30% containment, at this point) -- fire behavior was explosive late last week (Thursday, Friday) when the 36,800 acre blaze started. @breakingweather @BlakeNaftel pic.twitter.com/r63i6QmqtV

— Geoff Cornish (@StormOfCorn) June 6, 2018

416 Fire grows in Colorado

Firefighters have contained 10 percent of the 416 Fire, which has been burning 10 miles north of Durango, Colorado since June 1. The blaze has burned over 5,000 acres.

Evacuation and pre-evacuation orders remain in effect. Approximately 825 residential structures are listed in the evacuation area.

On Wednesday, fire activity was more active due to warm, dry and windy conditions, according to Inciweb.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

At least 100 dead, major disaster declared after Texas flood

Jul. 8, 2025
video

When were warnings issued for the flash floods in Texas?

Jul. 8, 2025
Weather News

US Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed as a hero after saving 165 kids f...

Jul. 8, 2025
Weather News

The faces of the Texas flooding tragedy

Jul. 7, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather News

Camp Mystic, site of deadly Texas flooding, is in 'Flash Flood Alley'

5 hours ago

Weather News

‘Oh my God, we’re floating’: What people faced in amid Texas floods

16 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

Flash flood threat to continue in central Texas into midweek

11 hours ago

Weather News

How torrential flooding wrought tragedy at girls camp in Texas

1 day ago

Severe Weather

Flooding downpours, severe thunderstorms to mitigate heat in East

7 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Travel

FAA investigating part of a Delta Air Lines wing fell onto a driveway

5 days ago

Health

Three hospitalized, 21 injured after bee attack in France

1 day ago

Weather News

France leads Europe in saying au revoir to beach and park smoking

5 days ago

Weather News

125,000-year-old ‘fat factory’ run by Neanderthals discovered

1 day ago

Weather News

An ambitious vision of a city built from lava

1 day ago

AccuWeather Weather News Hot, dry weather poses challenges as Ute Park Fire remains twice the size of Manhattan
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...