Seven Cabins Fire Update: Area Enters Recovery Phase as Evacuations End, Burn Assessment Begins

The Seven Cabins Fire near the Capitan Mountain Wilderness continued moving toward containment this week as all remaining evacuation orders were lifted and a U.S. Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team began assessing the landscape for post-fire hazards.

As of Thursday, the fire was reported at 31,867 acres and 64 percent contained. Fire managers reported 544 personnel assigned to the incident, a number that is expected to decline as containment increases and repair work is completed.

Lincoln County officials announced that all remaining evacuation statuses associated with the fire have been rescinded.

“In coordination with Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 and based on current fire conditions, Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services is lifting all remaining evacuation statuses associated with the Seven Cabins Fire,” the county announced Thursday.

Fire crews reported favorable conditions along portions of the fire perimeter, including the south edge of the fire where personnel walked the line Wednesday and found sections that could soon be secured under appropriate conditions.

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While firefighting operations continue, attention is increasingly turning toward recovery and long-term impacts.

The U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has begun field surveys of the burned landscape. The team, led by Kristin Meier, will evaluate fire severity and determine whether flooding, debris flows, erosion, sedimentation or other post-fire hazards pose risks to people, property, infrastructure or natural resources.

BAER teams are composed of specialists including hydrologists, geologists, soil scientists, engineers, biologists, archaeologists and geographic information specialists. Their assessments help land managers identify emergency stabilization measures needed to reduce post-fire risks.

One of the team’s first tasks will be producing a Soil Burn Severity map, which helps determine how severely soils were affected by the fire and where future watershed impacts may occur.

Aircraft continue to support operations despite reduced fire activity. Managers noted that aviation resources provide more than water and retardant drops. Fixed-wing Multi-Mission Aircraft equipped with infrared and visual cameras, along with agency-operated drones, are being used to locate hot spots and provide real-time intelligence regarding fire behavior and conditions on the ground.

Officials also reminded the public that a forest closure remains in effect across portions of the Capitan Mountain area, including Baca Campground. Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place and a Temporary Flight Restriction continues over the fire area.

Fire managers noted that unauthorized drones remain a hazard to aviation operations. If a drone enters restricted airspace, firefighting aircraft must be grounded until the area is clear.

Weather forecasts call for scattered showers and thunderstorms, followed by a warming and drying trend through the weekend. Smoke is expected to remain moderate and largely confined to the immediate fire area, although warming conditions could increase smoke production in coming days.

As suppression efforts continue, officials are also beginning to highlight signs of natural recovery. Fire personnel noted that many native plant species are adapted to wildfire, with some seeds activated by heat and others dispersed by wind, water and wildlife. Those early stages of regeneration are expected to play an important role in the long-term recovery of the burned landscape.