Silver Fire Active - now 36,500 acres

For Immediate Release 

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Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382

June 20, 2013- 8 a.m. 575-536-3285

Silver Fire Active, Grows 6,200 Acres

SAN LORENZO, NM – A persistent hot and dry weather pattern remains over the Silver Fire. Firefighters have continued to hold the 36,500 acre fire within containment lines.

The fire will exhibit the same smoke column as the past two days. The most active part of the fire is in the north, moving two miles yesterday.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and key staff members will be briefed on firefighting efforts at the Silver Fire Incident Command Post this morning.

Firefighters will continue mop up, indirect line construction, aggressively engaging the fire where appropriate and gathering intelligence on both the east and west flanks.

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 511 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.

Daily public meetings continue to be held each morning at the Hillsboro Community Center at 10 and tomorrow, Friday, June 21, 2013, at the Round Up Lodge in San Lorenzo at 6 p.m.

Forest 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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Survey

Please participate in this short survey from the Linebery Policy Center for Natural Resource Management at New Mexico State University.  The topic is on losing the loss of use of land you owned because a species of animal or plant were found on or near your property.

Silver Fire Grows to 30,300 Acres

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382 

June 19, 2013- 8:30 a.m. 575-536-3285

Silver Fire Grows to 30,300 Acres

SAN LORENZO, NM – Dry conditions and wind contributed to the growth of the Silver Fire yesterday. The fire grew 5,500 acres to reach 30,300 acres. Firefighters were able to hold containment lines and protect the community of Kingston. The fire burned actively in Railroad Canyon, Carbonate Creek and Little Bear Canyon.

Predicted weather today will have west-southwest winds to 20 mph with possible gusts up to 35 mph and single digit humidity. The temperature is predicted to be in the mid 90’s. Smoke from the fire today will be visible from miles away.

Crews will continue indirect line construction on the west flank of the fire along existing trails and mop up and patrol in the Kingston and Royal John Mine area. Team leadership says that the fire could grow another 2,000 to 6,000 acres today.

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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.

Daily public meetings continue to be held each morning at the Hillsboro Community Center at 10.

Forest 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 Activity Increases - 24,800 acres

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Fire Information 575-536-3382 

June 18, 2013- 9 a.m. 575-536-3285

Silver Fire Activity Increases

SAN LORENZO, NM – A hot and dry air mass with stronger winds and lower relative humidity has settled over the Silver Fire resulting in an increase in fire behavior. Yesterday the fire moved into Railroad Canyon on the northwest side and Carbonate and Rattlesnake Canyons on the northeast side. Fire management officials anticipated these moves and positioned personnel to take action. Hotshot crews are working on the western side of the Silver Fire north of NM Highway 152 to prepare the area for action when it is favorable to engage the fire. The 24,800 acre fire remains at five percent contained.

Incident Commander Matt Reidy said that he is “pleased with the progress that firefighters have made in structure protection around key areas such as Kingston and the Royal John Mine. We have selected areas for fireline construction along roads, topography breaks and vegetative changes between pine forests and pinyon juniper woodlands that will provide us the greatest probability of success in fire containment.”

More than 500 firefighters are working the fire. Resources include five helicopters, five 20-person hotshot crews, four 20-person hand crews, 16 engines, two dozers and 11 water tenders.

Several agencies are assisting in the management of the Silver Fire. 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.

Daily public meetings continue to be held each morning at the Hillsboro Community Center at 10 a.m.

Multiple closures are in effect for the Silver Fire. 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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Weather Transitions for Silver Fire - 23,200 acres

For Immediate Release                                                              
Contact:  Fire Information     575-536-3382 575-536-3285

June 17, 2013- 9:30 a.m.                                                                                                          

Weather Transitions for Silver Fire

SAN LORENZO, NM – Today the weather is transitioning from a mild moist air mass that has been over the area for several days and will be replaced with hot dry air, strong winds and low humidity today. The previous day’s favorable weather conditions allowed firefighters to make progress on construction of 3 miles of containment line.  The 23,200 acre fire remains at five percent contained.

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is scheduled to arrive Tuesday.  BAER teams are staffed by specially trained professionals and scientists who rapidly evaluate the burned area and prescribe emergency stabilization treatments.

Daily public meetings continue to be held each morning at the Hillsboro Community Center at 10 a.m.

Additional firefighters from New Mexico are replacing firefighters that are returning home for rest after battling fires in Pecos, Jemez Springs and San Lorenzo, New Mexico.  There are now 586 firefighters working the fire including five helicopters, eight 20-person hotshot crews, five 20-person hand crews, 16 engines, two dozers and 11 water tenders.

Several agencies are assisting with the Silver Fire. 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.

To ensure public safety, the Aldo Leopold Wilderness has been closed east of NM State Highway 152 from the Continental Divide National ScenicTrail #74 south to Reeds Peak. NM State Highway 152 from San Lorenzo to Hillsboro remains closed. The road closure is for east and westbound traffic from 35 miles east of Bayard at mile marker 16 to 10 miles west of Hillsboro at mile marker 40. Trail #79 and the Royal John Mine Road are also closed for public safety. 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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Silver Fire - Black Range photo

Black Range Mountains’ rugged, steep terrain that recently burned during the Silver Fire, Gila National Forest.  Photo USFS.

Silver Fire update June 16, 2013, 0900 - 21,800 acres

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

21,800 acres (+400). 5% contained (+5). EC: N/R. T/D/D: 50 residence (+10), 30 outbuildings (0), 0/0

FM-10 (Timber). Fire Behavior moderate yesterday, high RH and cloud cover minimized fire spread. Closure of Hwy 152, campground and trails, steep rugged terrain limited access, bug killed trees, extreme dry fuels. Smoke impacts to local communities is and will continue to be an issue. GP: Extreme. DT: Extreme.

Type 2 IMT (Heaton, IC). 10 T1 crews (+2), 5 T2 crews (0), 2 T1 Helos (0), 2 T2 Helos (0), 1 T3 Helo (0), 16 engines (0). Total 621 personnel (+69). CRN: Maintain 6 T1 crews and 2 T2IA crews on the Incident.