Latest news with #TroutFire
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Why is it so hazy? How New Mexico wildfire smoke hurts El Paso air quality
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the new total acreage impacted by the Trout Fire, as well as the revised evacuation map. The current Trout Fire in Silver City, which has burned over 38,701 acres, has caused a new problem as El Paso's air quality worsens as a result of the smoke. The latest on the blaze includes evacuation orders for Lake Roberts, Mimbres, San Lorenzo, Santa Rita Mine, Thunderbird, Lampbright, Sapillo Creek, Bear Dam, Gila Cliff Dwellings, Bear Canyon, Cherry Creek Ranch, Indian Springs Ranch and Cooney Place. The Trout Fire joins the adjacent Meadow Fire, which has burned over eight acres, six miles east of Gila, New Mexico. That also is not contained. IQAir notes the air quality is moderate at 88, which means "children, active adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion." The main pollutant is PM2.5, which refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. "These fine particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, leading to various health issues. It's primarily produced from combustion processes like fires, including those from vehicles, industrial emissions, and burning fossil fuels in power plants," the website said. The American Lung Association suggests the following to protect one's lungs. They include: Wear a KN95 mask when outside Limit outdoor activity Run an air purifier in your home Close windows to avoid outdoor air Over the last 14 days, New Mexico has experienced eight fires that have burned an estimated 82,000 acres. For 2025, there have been 556 fires that have burned an estimated 119,000 acres. Three of those have been major fires. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso weather: Haze from New Mexico wildfires hurting air quality
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Mexico wildfire map: Track Trout Fire as responders work to contain blaze
Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect the new total acreage impacted by the Trout Fire. For those heading to the mountains of New Mexico during the summer months, it could mean dealing with fires stemming from particularly dry conditions. The New Mexico Wildfire Map currently shows an active fire east of Gila, New Mexico. The Trout Fire is burning an estimated 38,708 acres. Currently, 755 personnel are assigned to the incident. The fire is burning through timber, grass, and dense six-foot brush, according to MAPO. The fire is 0% contained. N.M. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency and secured federal Fire Management Assistance Grants in response to the Trout Fire. The declaration allocates $750,000 to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for firefighting efforts, including the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard, according to a news release from the office of the governor. The fire tracker provides a map with pinpoint locations of each fire and shows where red flag warnings are in effect, among other information. You can also click on each point to see detailed information on the fire in that area. The U.S. Forest Service noted the fire was reported Thursday, June 12, in the Trout Creek area of the Gila National Forest. The Gila National Forest has implemented a closure order as the fire is not contained. Another adjacent fire over eight acres east of the Gila Forest. That, too, is not contained and was reported five days ago, according to the U.S. Forest Service. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New Mexico wildfire map: Track Trout Fire in real-time
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Here's the latest as the Trout Fire continues to burn in Gila, New Mexico
It has been one week since the Trout Fire was reported four miles southeast of Gila, New Mexico with the U.S. Forest Service noting it is 11% contained. That latest figure cited by the National Interagency Fire Center now reports the blaze has grown to a staggering 44,569 acres. "Yesterday's gusty winds have diminished. Light winds are expected today, shifting south-southwest by this evening," the U.S. Forest Service outlook said. "Relative humidity remains low, ranging from 6-9%, and fuels continue to be extremely dry. Looking ahead, there is an increasing chance of thunderstorm development in the coming days, which may bring erratic winds and lightning." The most recent evacuation orders from five hours ago have included Lake Roberts, Mimbres, San Lorenzo, Santa Rita Mine, Thunderbird, Lampbright, Sapillo Creek, Bear Dam, Gila Cliff Dwellings, Bear Canyon, Cherry Creek Ranch, Indian Springs Ranch and Cooney Place. The total personnel enlisted to contain the fire has also grown to 1,306 firefighters. The report by the U.S. Forest Service also confirmed crews are actively scouting for "control features to help limit fire movement" toward the Mimbres Valley. With increased fire activity, additional resources continue to arrive to help with suppression efforts. More: on tracking the Trout Fire New Mexico wildfire map: Track Trout Fire as responders work to contain blaze Currently, crews continue to hold and secure a completed line against the main fire. Plans are also underway to prepare HWY 15 for potential burnout operations on the northwest portion of the fire. Crews are also preparing to "implement defensive burning operations as needed and continue to prepare work and structure protection near Trout Valley and Lake Roberts," the forest service said. While air quality in the Borderland has been rated 47, or good, by IQAir as of this morning, New Mexico has seen a busy fire season thus far. The New Mexico Fire Dashboard reports four new fires have started in the last 24 hours burning 83 acres, with 13 starting within the last 14 days impacting 102,000 acres. There have only been three large fires burning 102,000 acres, while 2025 has already seen 567 fires total 138,000 acres. An estimated 64% of the blazes this year have been attributed to human causes. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Here's the latest as the Trout Fire continues to burn in Gila, New Mexico
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Reveal Scale of Wildfires Scorching New Mexico
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASA satellite imagery has revealed the dramatic scale of the wildfires scorching parts of southwestern New Mexico, as two major fires—the Buck and Trout—continue to threaten homes, infrastructure and air quality. Captured on June 14 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) aboard Landsat 8, the satellite images offer a stark visual contrast between scorched earth and still-green terrain, showing the devastation caused by the fast-moving blazes. False-color imagery, which combines shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible light, draws the viewers attention to the impacted areas. Actively burning areas appear bright orange in the images, while blackened ground from earlier fire activity darkens the landscape south of Lake Roberts in Grant County. Together, the Buck and Trout fires had charred more than 80,000 acres by June 18, less than a week after they started on June 11 and 12, respectively. Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the impact of the New Mexico wildfires. Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the impact of the New Mexico wildfires. NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison Windy, dry and tinder-laden conditions fueled their swift expansion in the area. By that date, the Trout Fire had advanced nearly to the edge of Lake Roberts and was threatening communities along Sapillo Creek. Residents from approximately 2,000 homes had been placed under evacuation orders, according to local news reports. In contrast, the Buck Fire showed slower movement and was 25 percent contained. New Mexico's Governor Responds A federal emergency declaration was issued by New Mexico's governor on June 17 in response to the Trout Fire's rapid advance. The designation enables state agencies to request assistance from federal and other resources. Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the wildfire impact in New Mexico. Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the wildfire impact in New Mexico. NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison More than 875 firefighting personnel—including hotshot and hand crews, bulldozers, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft—were engaged in suppression efforts by June 18, according to InciWeb, the national incident information system. Despite the growing perimeter, no infrastructure damage had yet been reported. NASA's monitoring did not stop with images. Its air pollution tracking satellite, TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution), detected plumes of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde in the smoke on June 17. These pollutants, which can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions, were measured with TEMPO's sensors. The satellite, launched to provide hourly air quality readings over North America, measures pollution down to a resolution of just a few square miles. NASA continues to monitor the fires and air quality, providing data to support firefighters, emergency responders, and public health officials. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the wildfires? Let us know via science@
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Americans Told to Stay Indoors in Two States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality alerts for parts of Nevada and New Mexico were issued by The National Weather Service (NWS) Friday. In southwest Elko County in Nevada and areas downstream of the Trout Fire in Grant County, New Mexico, the general public was advised to limit outdoor activity, and vulnerable groups were advised to remain indoors to avoid potential health impacts. Why It Matters Severe air pollution and wildfire smoke can represent public health threats, particularly for children, older adults, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular issues. Air pollution was linked to an estimated 63,600 deaths in the U.S. in 2021, according to Statista. What To Know In Nevada, an air quality alert was posted for southwest Elko County—including Elko, Ryndon, Jiggs, Lamoille, Lee, South Fork, and Spring Creek. The alert cited "elevated particulate matter levels" likely to reach red/unhealthy air quality categories. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at this level, some members of the general public may experience health effects, while members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. In New Mexico, the NWS warned of "unhealthy to hazardous" air quality due to wildfire smoke from the Trout Fire affecting the Sapillo Creek and Mimbres Valley along Highway 35 and Highway 152, between Santa Clara and San Lorenzo within Grant County. The advisory urged "everyone" to avoid any outdoor exertion, with specific warnings for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, who "should remain indoors," according to the alert. "People with heart disease, symptoms such as a fast pulse or heartbeat, shortness of breath, or unusual weakness may indicate a health problem," it added. "If you have any of these, call your health care provider." The Trout fire, burning north of Silver City, had consumed more than 44,000 acres at the time of writing. What People Are Saying Professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary, University of London, previously told Newsweek: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults. "Their trajectory can be deviated so they don't actually achieve their maximum lung function." There are also "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, Grigg said. Additionally, Grigg said conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution. What Happens Next At the time of writing, the air quality alert for New Mexico was set to remain in effect through noon Friday. Meanwhile, the alert for Nevada was in effect until 11 a.m. on Saturday.
