John Parmenter, director of Scientific Services Division at the nearby Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, told the Albuquerque Journal that the Thompson Ridge fire ignited Friday in dense territory that was scheduled for thinning in the next few years because it posed a fire hazard.
The unit was supposed to come back online one week earlier after being shut down for scheduled repairs March 26, but the schedule was impacted by a fire at Unit 3 of the plant.