Bemis Fire Media Advisory – May 18, 2022

Conway, NH, May 18, 2022 – Firefighters are continuing to work on implementing suppression plans on the Bemis Fire situated in Crawford Notch State Park, the White Mountain National Forest, and on private lands adjacent to NH Route 302. The status of fire growth remains at 106 acres and it is now 45% contained. Temperatures are expected to reach 60 degrees today with northwest winds gusting to 38 mph. Minimum relative humidity values are predicted to be 26%. Higher winds today have modified operations in some areas due to safety concerns related to hazardous snags and residual elevated tree hazards from prior ice storms. Additional beneficial rain showers are predicted for the region tomorrow. No structures have been impacted by the fire.

Incident commanders from the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands-Forest Protection Bureau and the White Mountain National Forest are working in unified command to manage the incident. Currently 45 firefighters are supporting the effort. The safety of the public and firefighters remains the top priority.

Named for Bemis Brook which is located in the area, the fire continues to burn on steep rocky slopes with challenging terrain for firefighters as they work to construct and improve firelines. The incident consists of an area comprised of three separate divisions which were designated for incident management purposes. Unburned areas remain interspersed between Divisions A, B and C. The forest type is a combination of northern hardwood species and spruce and fir with a dry fuel bed of leaf and needle litter in addition to scattered larger woody debris. Crews are working to suppress hot spots in the deeper shaded conifer fuel beds and sawyers are removing burning hazardous dead trees referred to as snags.

An investigation to determine the cause and origin of the fire continues. The public is being asked to contact officials if they made any personal observations of the incident while hiking in the area or took any photographs of the early stages of the fire. “We are especially interested in any photos or observations from individuals who were in a position to witness the fire activity, smoke or flames between 10:30 am-11:30 am on the morning of May 14, 2022” stated Captain Michael Matson with the NH Division of Forests & Lands. If you have any information please contact Captain Matson at 603-227-8731 or at Michael.J.Matson@dncr.nh.gov.

Frankenstein Cliffs, Arethusa Falls Trail, and Ripley Falls Trail, located in Crawford Notch State Park remain closed until further notice. A temporary flight restriction is in place to allow official aviation resources' safe operation on the fire. The use of drones by members of the public within a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is prohibited. Members of the public are encouraged to be attentive and do their part to prevent human-caused wildfires and respect closure areas. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

NH Division of Forests and Lands Twitter: @NHForestRangers
White Mountain NF Facebook: @WhiteMountainNF
White Mountain NF Twitter: @WhiteMountainNF

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