Seven Cabins Fire: Wildfire Sparked by Fatal Plane Crash Grows to 12,549 Acres

A wildfire sparked by last week’s fatal medical plane crash in the Capitan Mountains continued to grow Monday, as firefighters battled extreme conditions in rugged terrain north of Capitan.

The Seven Cabins Fire had grown to 12,549 acres by Monday with 0% containment, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team. More than 600 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 12 crews, 20 engines, helicopters, bulldozers and water tenders.

Fire officials said crews successfully kept the fire south of Highway 246 on Sunday despite high winds and rapidly changing conditions. Overnight operations focused on improving containment lines near Harrison Canyon while additional firefighters arrived to help protect structures and other values at risk in evacuation areas.

Officials warned that shifting winds and critically dry conditions continue to create extreme fire behavior. Wind gusts up to 40 mph and humidity levels as low as 7% were expected Monday under a Red Flag Warning.

The fire is believed to have been sparked by the crash of a medical transport aircraft early Thursday morning in the Capitan Mountains Wilderness area. According to Lincoln County officials, the twin-engine King Air aircraft was traveling from Roswell Air Center to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport near Ruidoso when radar and communications contact were lost. Emergency crews later received reports of both a missing aircraft and a fire in the mountains. 

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Authorities later located the wreckage in steep, rugged terrain. All four people aboard the aircraft were found deceased at the scene. The victims were later identified as pilots Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara of Generation Jets, along with flight nurses Sarah Clark and Jamie Novick of Trans Aero MedEvac. 

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. 

Fire managers said dense fuels in the previous Peppin burn scar, steep terrain and long medical extraction times have limited firefighters’ ability to directly engage portions of the blaze. Aircraft continue supporting suppression efforts when weather conditions allow.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for areas from Highway 246 to the ridge line of the Capitan Mountains between mile marker 13 and Boy Scout Mountain. Highway 246 also remains closed between mile marker 19 north of Capitan and Mark Road in Chavez County.

Officials emphasized that firefighting aircraft remain heavily engaged over the fire area and reminded the public that drones can ground firefighting operations.

Residents can monitor evacuation information through Lincoln County’s Genasys evacuation system and through updates posted by the incident management team.