Latest news with #GilaNationalForest
CBS News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
New Mexico wildfires force evacuations for about 2,000 homes, prompt state of emergency order
Two wildfires in New Mexico are burning over 80,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders and an emergency response from state officials. The Buck Fire is burning over 57,000 acres in Catron County and is 15% contained as of Tuesday night, according to New Mexico Fire Information. Lightning sparked the fire on June 11, authorities said. The Trout Fire started a day later and is burning nearly 25,000 acres in the south of the Gila National Forest. It has no containment, and its cause has not yet been determined. Extreme drought conditions, combined with hot and dry temperatures caused the blaze to grow on Monday, the U.S. Forest Service said in an update Tuesday. Photo posted by the New Mexico's Bureau of Land Management on Monday, June 16, 2025, shows firefighters managing the Buck Fire in Craton County. Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico Residents of about 2,000 homes have been forced to evacuate, according to Stefan La-Sky, a spokesperson for the team managing the Trout Fire. Officials said they were not aware of any injuries or burned structures. Around 875 personnel and 10 helicopters worked to slow the fire on Tuesday, La-Sky said. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in response to the Trout Fire. The governor's declaration will direct the New Mexico Department of Finance Administration to allocate $750,000 to the state's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for emergency response efforts. The New Mexico National Guard will also be deployed to assist, according to the governor's declaration. Photo posted by the New Mexico's Bureau of Land Management on Monday, June 16, 2025, shows firefighters putting out the Buck Fire in Craton County. Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico "I appreciate our federal partners for taking this threat seriously and for doing their part in supporting the responders who are working their hardest to protect the community," Grisham said. The state's Department of Health issued a smoke advisory for Grant and Catron counties. Health officials warned that the smoke will travel based on wind conditions, and air quality may be affected as far as Las Cruces — nearly 130 miles away. A red flag warning is in effect through Wednesday, as temperatures remain in the 90s with extremely low humidity, and wind gusts are expected up to 35 miles per hour. Red flag warnings are issued to indicate the highest level of fire danger.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters battle two wildfires in Gila National Forest
Hot, dry temperatures and extreme drought conditions caused two wildfires burning in the Gila National Forest to grow prompting changes to evacuation levels on June 17. The Trout grew to 24,706 acres; the Buck fires to 57,736 acres. The Buck fire, which began June 11 southeast of Aragon, is 15% contained, while the Trout Fire remains uncontained. The Trout fire, 12 miles north of Silver City, has not resulted in the loss of any structures, but evacuations have increased to GO (Level 3) in zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and SET (Level 2) in zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Additional evacuation areas will be identified as conditions change. An interactive evacuation map is available through the Southwest Area Incident Management Team website. "Crews are bracing for increased fire activity, and the public should expect the potential for additional changes to evacuation status," a report from the Southwest Area Incident Management Team read. Gusty and erratic winds and lightning will be a concern for the Buck Fire's growth. Temperatures in the 90s with extremely low humidity and wind gusts up to 35 mph will fuel the Trout Fire, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team. Red Flag Warnings are in effect June 17 from noon to 9 p.m. in the Buck Fire area and through June 18 in the Trout Fire area. Crews worked late into the evening of June 16 along the Shaw Canyon access road on the northeast corner of the fire to limit eastern spread, according to a Southwest Area Incident Management Team report. Night resources remained on the incident to monitor for hotspots and potential growth along existing containment lines. Fire personnel also continued scouting for potential control features in the north and northwest areas, while additional crews were mobilized in support of future operations, the report read. 'We'd like to thank the community for your continued support," Incident Commander Lino Baca said. "The team is working diligently to limit fire growth while minimizing impacts to grazing areas by keeping the fire footprint as small as possible. With fuels advisories in effect and limited resources available in the event of an emergency, firefighter and public safety remains our highest priority.' Firefighters are focusing on line preparation ahead of expected fire weather and working to strengthen and secure existing control lines to help limit the spread of the fire on June 17. An increase in acreage was reported due to more accurate mapping June 16, and fire managers were confidently able to add some containment to parts of the fire, the incident management team report read. Members of the public should avoid the Buck Fire area. Unmanned aircraft, such as drones, pose a risk to firefighting operations and can cause air operations to cease, according to the incident management team. The public should avoid driving on New Mexico 163 within the fire area. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) has issued a soft closure to discourage any hikers from hiking through the fire area due to public safety and accountability. Smoke may be visible from Highway 12 southeast of the community of Aragon and southwest of Highway 60. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Trout Fire remained active on June 16, particularly on the east and south flanks. Overnight, crews conducted firing operations to protect property and hold established firelines, according to a Southwest Area Incident Management Team report. Additional personnel and resources arrived to boost suppression efforts and support both day and nighttime shifts. Firefighters are working in round-the-clock rotations to stay ahead of changing conditions, the report read. Firefighters would conduct firing operations on the north and west sides of the fire, build direct handlines along the fire's edge, reinforce dozer lines and identify roads and natural features to serve as control lines on June 17, the incident management team report read. These tactics are used to reduce fuels and create buffers that help protect infrastructure, homes and other values at risk. Firefighting resources are seeking opportunities to prevent additional growth along the south edge of the fire. Aerial resources would assist with water and retardant drops as conditions allow on June 17, but increasing wind and ongoing Red Flag Warnings may limit aircraft use for safety. Crews are continuing to reinforce the progress made on June 16 by removing unburned fuels between control lines and the fire when it is safe to do so, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team report. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Gila National Forest wildfires continue to grow
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Trout Fire near Silver City now at 4K acres, 0% containment
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Trout Fire, burning north of Silver City in the Gila National Forest, has nearly doubled in size, fire officials reported on Saturday morning, June 14. The Trout Fire is now estimated to be 3,910 acres in size and remains 0 percent contained, fire officials reported. Management of the fire also was transferred to larger command team as of 6 a.m. Saturday. Gila National Forest closes part of its land due to Trout Fire Nearly 300 fire personnel are on scene fighting the fire, which started on Thursday, June 12. The cause remains under investigation. During the day Friday, firefighters worked on securing the fire on the west side of New Mexico Highway 15. Helicopters and aircraft delivered retardant and water to help slow the fire's advance, fire officials said. Heavy equipment reopened lines used during past fires to create firelines in all directions around the fire. 'Priorities are protecting private residences in Lake Roberts and Mimbres, agricultural infrastructure, endangered species habitats, and both recreation and cultural values,' fire officials said in their update. Hot temperatures are expected to continue through the week ahead with very low humidity and fuel moisture. As a result, fire conditions will remain elevated into much of next week. Winds will be relatively light until Monday and Tuesday when 10- to 20-mph winds are forecasted. The public is asked to avoid New Mexico highways 15 and 35 due to the large volume of firefighter traffic and limited entry and exit options for area residents. Smoke is widely visible around Grant County during peak fire activity. Smoke impacts can be expected in the Mimbres and Sapillo valleys and other low-lying areas, especially overnight and during early morning hours. For real-time smoke conditions, click here. Grant County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State Police issued an evacuation order for private lands at the western end of New Mexico Highway 35, from the Highway 15/35 intersection east to Sapillo Campground. Private lands east of Sapillo Campground remain in 'Set' mode under the Ready, Set, Go program. The Gila National Forest has issued a closure order for all developed recreation sites along Highway 35 and a swath of Highway 15, as well as adjacent National Forest System lands. A temporary flight restriction is in effect within a 7-mile radius of the fire area to allow firefighters to do their work. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place on the Gila National Forest. For full details, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Nearly 20,000 acres burned in wildfires across Gila National Forest
Jun. 13—Two wildfires on opposite ends of the Gila National Forest have torched more than 19,000 acres, prompting some highway closures and evacuations in southwestern New Mexico. By Friday evening, neither the Trout Fire, burning north of Silver City, nor the lightning-caused Buck Fire, located southwest of Magdalena and Datil, had been contained since sparking the day before. The cause of the Trout Fire remains under investigation. Here's the latest on both fires, provided by InciWeb, a wildfire information management system, and other officials. Trout Fire A wildfire had burned over 3,900 acres and forced a highway closure 12 miles north of Silver City. The fire grew from 500 acres on Thursday evening to 2,000 by Friday morning. No one has been injured, and no structures have burned. The fire is burning in timber, brush and grass on both sides of N.M. 15 in the Sheep Corral and Meadow Creek areas, according to a statement from the Gila National Forest. "The fire was under the influence of hot, dry, windy weather and did push east of Highway 15 into the upper Meadow Creek area," said Maribeth Pecotte, a spokesperson for the Gila National Forest. N.M. 15 is closed where it intersects with N.M. 35, south of the Ben Lilly Memorial. An evacuation order from the Grant County Office of Emergency Management was issued Friday afternoon near the highways, and residents were asked to evacuate via N.M. 35 toward Mimbres. Pecotte urged travelers to avoid the area if they do not have a home or business in the N.M. 15 corridor. The Mimbres and Sapillo Creek valleys have been advised to prepare for the possibility of an evacuation, but Pecotte said it is up to the county to determine if and when evacuations will happen. "Fire activity has calmed down a bit over time and has not produced a lot of smoke this morning, but we do expect the fire to continue growing as the day heats up, and relative humidity drops to single digits and winds pick up," Pecotte said. Buck Fire The fire, southeast of Aragon and south of Pelona Mountain, had torched 16,00 acres and forced an evacuation for Garcia Camp. The fire moved onto private land and homes roughly 1 to 2 miles away are under threat, with power lines in the vicinity of the blaze. No injuries have been reported. The Continental Divide Trail south of N.M. 12 in Catron County has been impacted by the inferno, and Bureau of Land Management and fire officials have warned hikers to avoid that portion of the trail. Hotter and drier conditions are expected throughout the weekend, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Anand. "There is a chance for some showers and some dry thunderstorms down there this afternoon, so if any dry lightning strikes do impact that area, with the extreme drought conditions, that could lead to future fire starts," Anand said.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Nearly 20,000 acres burned in wildfires across Gila National Forest
Jun. 13—Two wildfires on opposite ends of the Gila National Forest have torched more than 19,000 acres, prompting some highway closures and evacuations in southwestern New Mexico. By Friday evening, neither the Trout Fire, burning north of Silver City, nor the lightning-caused Buck Fire, located southwest of Magdalena and Datil, had been contained since sparking the day before. The cause of the Trout Fire remains under investigation. Here's the latest on both fires, provided by InciWeb, a wildfire information management system, and other officials. Trout Fire A wildfire had burned over 3,900 acres and forced a highway closure 12 miles north of Silver City. The fire grew from 500 acres on Thursday evening to 2,000 by Friday morning. No one has been injured, and no structures have burned. The fire is burning in timber, brush and grass on both sides of N.M. 15 in the Sheep Corral and Meadow Creek areas, according to a statement from the Gila National Forest. "The fire was under the influence of hot, dry, windy weather and did push east of Highway 15 into the upper Meadow Creek area," said Maribeth Pecotte, a spokesperson for the Gila National Forest. N.M. 15 is closed where it intersects with N.M. 35, south of the Ben Lilly Memorial. An evacuation order from the Grant County Office of Emergency Management was issued Friday afternoon near the highways, and residents were asked to evacuate via N.M. 35 toward Mimbres. Pecotte urged travelers to avoid the area if they do not have a home or business in the N.M. 15 corridor. The Mimbres and Sapillo Creek valleys have been advised to prepare for the possibility of an evacuation, but Pecotte said it is up to the county to determine if and when evacuations will happen. "Fire activity has calmed down a bit over time and has not produced a lot of smoke this morning, but we do expect the fire to continue growing as the day heats up, and relative humidity drops to single digits and winds pick up," Pecotte said. Buck Fire The fire, southeast of Aragon and south of Pelona Mountain, had torched 16,00 acres and forced an evacuation for Garcia Camp. The fire moved onto private land and homes roughly 1 to 2 miles away are under threat, with power lines in the vicinity of the blaze. No injuries have been reported. The Continental Divide Trail south of N.M. 12 in Catron County has been impacted by the inferno, and Bureau of Land Management and fire officials have warned hikers to avoid that portion of the trail. Hotter and drier conditions are expected throughout the weekend, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Anand. "There is a chance for some showers and some dry thunderstorms down there this afternoon, so if any dry lightning strikes do impact that area, with the extreme drought conditions, that could lead to future fire starts," Anand said.
