UPDATE: Evacuation order for Timberon expected to lift at noon Saturday
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
As of 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4 the Oakmont fire is 0% contained and its size is now 120 acres.
Crews worked overnight on fire's edges and extinguished burning materials with water tenders, according to an updated news release by the New Mexico Forestry Division.
"This morning, bulldozers will work to improve and widen those containment lines, and crews will seek to continue their work on interior smoldering. After finding that the fire’s behavior was decreasing, and that a threat to nearby structures was also lessening, a Type-3 Incident Command Team was not ordered. The Oakmont fire will remain a Type-4 incident," George Ducker, communications coordinator for the New Mexico Forestry Division, said in the release.
Otero County will lift its evacuation order at noon today and residents at shelters will be allowed to return home. Road closures that were in effect will also be lifted at noon.
Evacuation orders issued for Timberon neighborhoods
A wildfire erupted on Oakmont Road in Timberon Friday, May 3 forcing the evacuation of local neighborhoods as firefighters continued to attempt to contain the blaze.
The wildfire, dubbed the Oakmont Fire, was discovered at approximately 12:28 p.m., according to a report by the New Mexico Forestry Division.
Evacuations were ordered in the area of Sacramento Drive and Paradise Valley Drive. Those evacuated were provided shelter at Cloudcroft High School located at 10 Swallow place in Cloudcroft.
Otero County opened its fairgrounds at 401 Fairgrounds Road in Alamogordo for animals and livestock to be evacuated to. Circle Cross Ranch at 1282 Sacramento Drive was also accepting animals in need of evacuation.
Here's what we know about the blaze.
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Timberon is within the Sacramento Mountains and within Otero County limits. There cause of the ignition is unknown.
The fire is burning pinon, juniper and pine fuels within a populated neighborhood.
By Friday evening the Oakmont Fire had reached 100 acres and was 0% contained, according to a news release.
The fire was reported to be exhibiting "torching behavior" meaning it has moved from the ground up to crowns of trees.
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Road to Timberon closed as firefighters attempted to contain the blaze
When the fire erupted, road near the blaze were closed as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Officials have asked locals to refrain from calling 911 unless it is an emergency.
Firefighters reportedly attempted to suppress the fire using air support, a tactic that officials said has proven effective in slowing the fire.
A Type 3 Incident Management Team had been ordered to take command, an order that was lifted as the fire was contained. A Type three incident management team consists of 10 to 20 people in different areas of the fire handling major and complex incidents within the community.
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Otero County released resources such as local fire department and law enforcement to help with efforts to contain the blaze expected to last until Saturday morning.
"Crews are responding from Forestry Division, the US Forest Service, Otero County, and local volunteer fire departments. These include large air tanker and helicopter support, and the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Hotshot Crews," Ducker said.
There will be increased activity in the area as firefighters and equipment will be relocating as needed. Ultimately, full containment is not expected until Monday, May 6 as winds may pick up over the weekend.
"West/southwest wind 12-17 mph, decreasing to 6 to 11 miles per hour after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Tomorrow’s high near 73 degrees. North wind 7 to 16 mph becoming south in the morning. Gusts as high as 23 mph," according to the news release.
The public can continue to follow updates on the fire at the New Mexico Forestry Division's X account or Facebook page.
Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.
This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Evacuation orders for Timberon lifting as Oakmont Fire is 'controlled'
