#WallowFire Sher Brown update morning briefing Reserve 06/11/11

#WallowFire Sher Brown, Local Fire Liaison, update morning briefing Reserve 06/11/11 

• They have been back burning near Luna to tie into the dozer line around Luna. There was temporary panic before information that it was back burning reached the residents. 
• There was a start near Luna that was not part of the Wallow fire. It is currently under investigation. 
• Weather forecast: wind flow will increase over the weekend, coupled with very low humidity. The atmosphere will become more unstable, leading to critical fire weather conditions. Thunderstorms are expected as the week progresses. 
• Fire behavior: higher wind speeds out of the southwest, coupled with single digit relative humidity will return the potential for significant fire movement to the northeast. Long range spotting should be anticipated. 
• The National Guard is doing roving patrols in Coyote Creek.

#WallowFire - Reminder ranchers who need help

#WallowFire - Reminder ranchers who need help

Reminder from Gila Livestock Growers Association:  For ranchers who need help due to the fire and cannot get hold of their district ranger, contact Genevieve Masters she is coordinating pasture and other needs for the fire. 928-245-5063

And please send GLGA  information on who needs help who needs pasture and how many head of stock they need to find pasture for and what allotment they are coming off of. roundup@gilalivestockgrowers.org

This information is necessary even if you contact Genevieve because we need to relay it to Congressman Pearce's aides and to the Gila NF. Thanks.

#WallowFire 06/10/11 map

#WallowFire 06/10/11 map
Click on map to enlarge

We will provide map interpretation around 1 PM.

#WallowFire Morning EASTERN PERIMETER update 06/10/11 9:18

#WallowFire Morning EASTERN PERIMETER update 06/10/11 10:00 NM
Note: numbers here have been updated since original post
Gila National Forest
Jeff Pendleton
Incident Commander
PNW Team 3

Fire Update . 06/10/2011 10:00 a.m.

Management of suppression activities on the Wallow Fire is now divided into three areas, or zones. This update provides information on activities occurring on the East Zone of the fire. For more information about the other zones, please visit www.InciWeb.org or www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf.

Pacific Northwest Incident Command Team 3, Jeff Pendleton, Incident Commander assumed command of the eastern portion (zone 2) of the Wallow Fire this morning.

There was active burning on the eastern perimeter Thursday, with the fire continuing to be driven by wind, terrain and the dry fuels.

The suppression strategy for the fire’s eastern flank includes establishing a containment area using a combination of natural barriers, line building and burnout operations.

Firefighters are coordinating with the adjoining zones as they look for opportunities to connect natural barriers to establish and strengthen containment lines. They will continue to focus the bulk of their resources on providing structure protection and are working to keep the fire south of Luna.

###

Quick Facts

Wallow Fire . All Zones

• Location: Eastern Arizona
• Approximate Size: 386,453
• Fire Containment: 5%
• Start Date: May 29, 2011
• Cause: Under Investigation
• Incident Commanders:
•   Joe Reinarz - North Zone
•   Jeff Pendleton - East Zone
•   Duggar Hughes - West & SW Zone
• Resources on the Fire:    17 dozers, 221 engines, 66 tenders, 14 helicopters
• Total Personnel: 3,137

New Mexico's National Guard has joined the effort with approximately 150 Soldiers and Airmen. The New Mexico National guard is assisting emergency management agencies with necessary evacuations and safety and security issues. The low relative humidity and extremely dry fuels continue to provide the potential for extreme fire behavior. Winds on the eastern portion of the fire should be lighter today with temperature in the 70fs and humidity levels much like yesterday.

#WallowFire Catron County Manager Update 06/10/11 8:40 a.m. NM

#WallowFire Catron County Manager Bill Aymar Update 06/10/11 8:40 a.m. NM

• We will have latest briefing at 9:00 this morning.  We are not interested in operating on yesterday's information.
• Governor Martinez will be here today.    NM Homeland Cabinet Secretary Mike Duvall was in Reserve yesterday and will be back today with the governor.
• The New Mexico Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management people are here to supply backup for the Catron County Emergency Operations Center,which is located at the High School in Reserve.  Note that federal Homeland Security is NOT present at this fire.  
• "New Mexico Homeland Security is here to work for us," Aymar said.  "I am the incident commander.  Nobody from any agency is trying to take anything over - they are here to supply assets to get the job done".

More info from Reserve at approximately 9:45 a.m.

#WallowFire Richard Torres Photos, Reserve NM 06/09/11

#WallowFire Richard Torres Photos, Reserve NM 06/09/11
Click on images to enlarge

National Guard camp at Reserve Airport 06/09/11  Photo: R Torres

Road block US 180 at NM 12, west of Reserve NM 06/09/11  Photo: R Torres

Law Enforcement command center, Reserve NM  06/09/11  Photo: R Torres

Staging area Field Ops, Reserve NM 06/09/11  Photo: R Torres

Staging area Field Ops, Reserve NM 06/09/11  Photo: R Torres

#WallowFire fire location map as of 0715 MDT (north)

#WallowFire fire location map as of 0715 MDT (north)
Click on image to enlarge

#WallowFire - R Torres report: Catron County fire leadership

Richard Torres

Reserve NM  8:32 PM

Catron County Residents should be made aware of the tremendous efforts of their leaders. Since Friday, June 3rd, County Manager Aymar, Fire Marshall McGuire, State District Forest Marshall Doug Boykin, and most County Fire Chiefs have been meeting daily in Luna to plan strategies and develop plans of action in case the Wallow Fire advances into New Mexico. When Jeff Pendelton, Type 1 incident commander arrives soon on the scene, he will find a comprehensive plan already to be implemented.

"We have developed various contingency plans which will be useful for years to come," stated McGuire.

"I have been in constant contact with the Office of Emergency Management in Santa Fe, and they are aware of our needs if necessary," said Aymar. "Catron County has laid the groundwork to fight this monster; now lets get it done."

#WallowFire - Richard Torres update from Reserve, NM 8:14 PM

#WallowFire - Richard Torres update from Reserve, NM 8:14 PM


Trish Hogervorst, lead information officer for the Pacific Northwest Team 3, stated Jeff Pendelton will be the incident commander for fire activity in Luna area and beyond. Included in their responsibilities is structure protection and resource protection. "We plan to have a walk-up information center operational no later than Friday, June 10. Residents are encouraged to visit for the most current information," stated Trish. She also stated New Mexico Governor Susan Martinez is tentatively scheduled to be in Reserve on Friday, 9:30am, at the Catron County Fairgrounds to be briefed on the fire operations. 

#WallowFire - County manager update from Luna NM 8:12 PM

#WallowFire - County manager Bill Aymar update from Luna 8:12 PM

• Fire activity is low
• Luna is still in pre-evacuation 
• A community meeting was held earlier in Luna to discuss all aspects of the fire 
• 150 NM National Guard troops are at the County's disposal, currently camped at Reserve Airport. Any services we want them to provide, logistics, helping patrol, help with evacuation, etc..
• Type 1 Team is now moving into Reserve.  Air ops will have 7-10 helicopters, including heavy lift.
• Positioned the water “pumpkins” around Luna for a water source.
• Wind drove parts of the fire that we thought were headed for Luna more north.  Parts are still to the south that are curling around but are 8-9 miles away. 
• Governor Martinez has directed all resources to proceed with fire operations (official confirmation that the fire has crossed the line into NM cannot be determined until a fly-over takes IR and thermal imagery of the fire  this evening or after midnight.).  An assistant emergency manager is on the way.  Emergency ops center will be in Reserve
• Red Cross will come when/if Luna is evacuated.  

#WallowFire Richard Torres photo of National Guard unit

Richard Torres photo of National Guard Unit from Albuquerque in Reserve on its way to Luna Fire Base in Luna, NM.

Click on image to enlarge

 

 Photo credit: Richard Torres

#WallowFire: Catron County Manager Update 12:10 PM (NM)

Catron County Manager Bill Aymar reports from Luna, 12:10 PM (NM)

• The fire is still between 4-5 miles from Luna, still in Arizona 3/4 to one mile from the state line. The fire line moves back and forth, isn't regular, so it's hard to be precise about this. 
• Fire activity is calm at this time, with no wind to speak of.
• TheType 1 Team has arrived and is in process of getting briefed in Reserve right now.
• Governor Martinez called up the National Guard at 2 a.m. and they will help with the fire situation in Catron County today. They are NOT packing weapons and are not here to enforce the law - they are here to assist and support the fire effort. They will do whatever Catron County needs, including helping with traffic and logistics. The approximately 150 National Guard troops will be staged at the Reserve Airport. 
• New fire personnel are continuing to flow into Catron County right now. We will have an accurate number for Catron County in a couple of days, once the Type 1 Team is set up and fully operational. 
• Luna is still under pre-evacuation notice.
• There is a law enforcement presence in Escudilla Bonita and Coyote Creek subdivisions since their previous evacuation notice. No one is to return to any evacuated area until official notice is rescinded by the Apache County Sheriff's Department (the law enforcement entity that issues the notice is the one that can legally rescind it).