Capitan Gap Fire

The Capitan Gap Fire was a 17,000 acres (69 km2) human-caused forest fire that broke out in the Capitan Mountains range within Lincoln National Forest, in Lincoln County, eastern New Mexico in 1950: beginning on May 4.

While a 24-man firefighting crew desperately dug firebreaks the wind shifted, and the fire jumped the line.

The men buried themselves in the earth of a recent landslide, and survived the fire.

He was rescued by the firefighters and named Hotfoot, before filling the role of Smokey Bear.

Smokey Bear Vista Point overlooks some of the wildfire's site in Lincoln National Forest.