Silver Fire - USFS areas closed

Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Adjacent Forest Lands, & Forest Road 150 Closed

Silver City, NM; June 26, 2013-- Due to continued fire activity on the Silver Fire and concerns for public safety, as of June 23rd, the entire Aldo Leopold Wilderness and adjacent forest lands to the south, southeast, and to the eastern boundary of the Forest including Forest Road 150 from the Mimbres Valley at N.M. 35 north to Forest Road 4069G located at Main Diamond Creek are closed to all public entry until further notice.

Rocky Canyon, Upper and Lower Black Canyon Campgrounds including all forest trails east of Forest Road 150, and within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness are part of this closure.

Forest Road 150 is open south from Beaverhead off N.M. 59 to Forest Road 4069G, the Main Diamond Creek road.

“I am thankful for the public’s support during another year of wildfire on the Gila National Forest; the public’s fire prevention awareness and support is at an all-time high,” says Forest Supervisor Kelly Russell.

The boundary description of the closure includes:

• Starting at the intersection of Forest Road 150 and State Hwy 35 (T15S, R12W, sec. 23) and proceeding north along and including
Forest Road 150 to Forest Road 4069G (T11S, R12W, sec34),
• then east to the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary (T11S, R12W, sec 35),
• then north and east along the Aldo Leopold Wilderness boundary to the junction with Forest Trail 813 (T12S, R09W sec 6),
• then east along Forest Trail 813 (Byers Run) and Forest Road 895 to the Forest boundary T12S, R08W sec 6),
• then south and east along the Forest boundary to the Sierra/Grant county line (T18S, R9W, sec 13).
• From the Sierra/Grant County line along the Forest Boundary west and north to the intersection with State Hwy 152 (T16S, R10W, sec13)
then north and west along the Forest boundary to its intersection with State Hwy 35, then north and west along the Forest boundary
on the east side of State Hwy 35 to the intersection of State Hwy 35 and Forest Road 150 (T15S, R12W, sec. 23). 

A partial closure of the Aldo Leopold Wilderness had gone into effect on June 12th . With the active fire behavior, a complete closure of the wilderness, adjacent forest lands, and Forest Road 150 was required. -

Andrea G. Martinez
Public Affairs Officer
Gila National Forest
3005 E. Camino del Bosque
Silver City, NM 88061
575.388.8211 office
575.388.8204 fax
Twitter: @GilaForestPAO

Silver Fire Update - 85,920 acres

Silver Fire Update - 85,920 acres

SILVER, Gila NF, Silver City Dispatch, located 6 miles West of Kingston, NM (32.8888N, 107.8097W). Full suppression strategy.

85,920 acres (IR Flight), (+4,557). 20% contained (0). EC: N/R. T/D/D: 4 residence (0), 21 outbuildings (+7), 0/0/0

FM-10 (Timber).High to extreme fire behavior on the northern perimeter. Minimal fire activity south of Hwy 152. GP: Extreme. DT: Extreme.

Type 2 IMT (Reidy, IC). NM T2 IMT (Pierson, IC). 6 T1 crews (+1), 7 T2 crews (0), 3 T1 Helos (0), 2 T2 Helos (0), 1 T3 Helo (0), 14 engines (-3). Total 691 personnel (+86). CRN: None.

InciWeb. GeoMac Perimeters. Report: 6/25, 1900

Silver Fire Update - 76,062 acres

Silver Fire Update - June 24, 2013 8:00 AM

Red Flag Warning for Silver Fire –The Silver Fire grew to 76,062 acres yesterday as firefighters look for locations to engage the fire. The fire was most active in the northeast. Some areas of the fire in the south are in monitor status with resources shifting to the northwest, north and northeast parts of the fire.

Today is a transition day on the Silver Fire as Matt Reidy’s Northern Arizona Incident Management Team transfers the fire this evening to John Pierson’s New Mexico Incident Management Team. Residents of the Mimbres Valley should see more fire vehicles and some additional firefighters today.

Yesterday crews continued to mop up around Kingston and Reeds Cabin was wrapped for protection. State Forestry crews worked on fire hazard mitigation thinning on private property in Cooney subdivision to protect homes from wildfire.

Crews will continue to construct indirect fire line today in the northwest part of the fire and prepare for possible firing operations along the west. A Red Flag warning is in place again today for hot, dry and windy conditions.

Resources assigned to the fire include five 20-person hotshot crews, three 20-person crews, six helicopters, 18 engines, one dozer, nine water tenders for a total of 499 personnel.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information, visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

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Silver Fire - 70,002 acres

For Immediate Release

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Contact: Fire Information: 575 536-3385

June 23, 2013 – 8 a.m. 575-536-3285

Infrared flight measures Silver Fire growth

SAN LORENZO, NM –Evening infrared flight over the Silver fire measured Saturday’s fire growth at 13,302 acres, resulting in a total of 70,002. Night aerial photography provides the team with accurate high-quality imagery of acreage.

The fire continued to grow north reaching Animas Canyon yesterday, triggering firefighters who were working on containment lines to move to a safe location. Crews will continue constructing indirect fire line today.

According to Silver Fire meteorologist, Carl Cerniglia, “we have experienced higher winds recently and hot and dry conditions are expected over the next 6 days.”

To ensure public and firefighter safety in around the fire, Incident commander Matt Reidy said “residents and the general public can expect an increase in firefighter traffic in the area as new crews move into the area over the next several days.”

Resources assigned to the fire include five 20-person hotshot crews, three 20-person crews, five helicopters, 15 engines, one dozer, eight water tenders for a total of 463 personnel.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information, visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.


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Silver Fire Update - 56,000 acres

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382

June 22, 2013 – 8:30 a.m. 575-536-3285

12,000 Acre Growth on Silver Fire

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SAN LORENZO, NM. – The Silver Fire grew almost 12,000 acres yesterday from north of Noonday Canyon to Animas Canyon due to dry, windy conditions, steep slopes and low fuel moisture. The fire is more than 56,000 acres and additional growth is anticipated today as similar conditions will remain present over the area. A red flag warning is in effect from noon to 9 p.m. tonight. Crews will continue their efforts north of NM State Highway 152 in the construction of indirect fire lines, taking advantage of areas to work directly on the fire’s edge.

Motorists are reminded that the 25-mile route on NM State Highway 61 from its junction with NM 152 to U.S. Highway 180 is open. Motorists traveling along NM 61 pass through the communities of San Juan, Sherman, and the City of Rocks State Park. Forest and road closure information can be found at: http://fs.usda.gov/gila or www.nmroads.com.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information, visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

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Silver Fire Update - 44,600 acres

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382

June 21, 2013- 8:30 a.m. 575-536-3285

Red Flag Warning to Challenge Firefighters

SAN LORENZO, NM – A red flag warning is in effect for the Silver Fire area today and will continue to challenge firefighters. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the warnings are issued to warn fire managers about “critical weather and fuel moisture conditions that could lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity.” Warnings are generated as a result of low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, or a combination of these factors. A similar warning was in effect for the fire area yesterday when the fire grew to 44,600 acres. Containment remains at 20 percent.

A public meeting will be held tonight at the Round Up Lodge in San Lorenzo at 6 p.m. to provide information on the current status of the fire and to answer questions from the public.

Silver Fire resources include five helicopters, five 20-person hotshot crews, four 20-person hand crews, 15 engines, one dozer and eight water tenders for 498 total personnel.

Cooperators include the Grant and Sierra County Sheriff’s Departments, NM State Police, Las Cruces BLM District, NM State Forestry and NM Department of Transportation.

Forest and road closure information can be found at: http://fs.usda.gov/gila and www.nmroads.com.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

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Kingston Residents Return Home

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382

June 20, 2013- 10 a.m. 575-536-3285

Kingston Residents Return Home


SAN LORENZO, NM – “We are pleased to announce the evacuation order for the community of Kingston is lifted at noon today. This is lifted for residents of Kingston only,” said Incident Commander Matt Reidy. 

“The residents have been very understanding and their cooperation was appreciated during this trying time period. We understand residents have been away from their homes and are very anxious to return home.” Special entry permits will be issued at the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department to residents only. The Kingston area will remain closed to everyone except residents until further notice.

Reentry into the community has resulted through coordination between multiple agencies including: Sierra County Sheriff’s Department, NM State Police, NM Department of Transportation, Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, NM State Forestry, US Forest Service.

Several forest closures remain in place. For more information see http://fs.usda.gov/gila or www.nmroads.com.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

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