Update on Good Fire - June 26, 2020

 Location: between Blood Canyon and Brushy Mountain, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National ForestStart Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 13,220 acres                        Cause: Lightning

Location: between Blood Canyon and Brushy Mountain, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest

Start Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 11,360 acres                        Cause: Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper        Containment: 50%  

Current Information:  This lightning-caused fire had a recent reconnaissance flight and was GPS-ed at 11,360 acres. Wind and heat have caused the fire to grow. There is minimal fire behavior on the ground, with no isolated or single tree torching. There is some fire backing down into Little Creek on the northwest corner of the fire, which is being monitored by district wildland firefighters. The fire growth continues towards the south/southwest in the direction of Brushy Mountain.

Strategy:   The fire is in monitor status by the Wilderness RD and the Black Mountain Lookout until the onset of monsoon season.  

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evenings, smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins.  For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com.  Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6739/.  

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Location: between Blood Canyon and Brushy Mountain, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest

Start Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 10,275 acres                        Cause: Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper        Containment: 50%

Current Information:  This lightning-caused fire had a reconnaissance flight this a.m. and was GPS-ed at 10,275 acres. Wind and heat have caused the fire to grow. There is minimal fire behavior on the ground, with no isolated or single tree torching. The fire growth is towards the south/southwest in the direction of Brushy Mountain.

Strategy:   The fire is in monitor status by the Wilderness RD and the Black Mountain Lookout until the onset of monsoon season.

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evenings, smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins.  For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com.  Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6739/.  

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

GILA NATIONAL FOREST

Wilderness Ranger District

GOOD AND TURKEY WILDFIRES TRAIL CLOSURES

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) the prohibition listed in Order Number 03-06-05-20-004, Good and Turkey Wildfires Trail Closures on the Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District, dated June 11, 20202, and signed by Eric LaPrice, Acting Forest Supervisor, is hereby terminated.  


Done at Silver City, New Mexico this 16th day of June, 2020.

/s/ Eric LaPrice
acting Forest Supervisor
Gila National Forest

Location: between Blood Canyon and Brushy Mountain, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest

Start Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 8,370 acres                          Cause: Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper        Containment: 50%

Strategy:   The Type 3 Team will be transitioning the fire back to the Wilderness Ranger District Fire Management crew as of Wednesday June 17, 2020, at 6:00 a.m. This fire will be in monitor status by the Wilderness RD and the Black Mountain Lookout until the onset of monsoon season.

Closure Order Rescinded : The  temporary closure order #03-06-05-20-004 dated June 11, 2020, that includes Trail #160 which comes out of the Gila Center, and Trail #161 at Little Creek has been rescinded as of June 16, 2020, and the trails will be reopened by June 17, 2020, at 6:00 a.m.

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evenings, smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins.  For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com.  Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6739/.  

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Location: between Blood Canyon and Brushy Mountain, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest

Start Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 8,370 acres                          Cause: Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper        Containment: 15%

Resources:  Two 20-person Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC)

The strategy for today is to continue to prep Forest Service Trail #403 to the west until the junction with Trail #160, then continue prep to the west. Continue to prep Trail #161 (along the Little Creek drainage) to the west, post Trail #789 to the next confluence entering Little Creek drainage from the south.  There is a temporary closure order #03-06-05-20-004 dated June 11, 2020, that includes Trail #160 which comes out of the Gila Center, and Trail #161 at Little Creek.  

Values on these fires include public and wildland fire safety, the NM Hwy 15 corridor, private inholdings and associated infrastructure, the cultural and tourism aspect of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, the natural values of wilderness, wildlife habitat including the Gila trout, and to minimize the footprint and to have low intensity fire on the landscape.

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evenings, smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins.  For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com.  Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6739/.  

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

PROHIBITIONS:  

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a) the following acts are prohibited in the areas as described in this Order and depicted on the attached map (“Restricted Area” ) hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A, within the Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District in Catron and Grant Counties in the State of New Mexico.  

1. Going into or being upon any area which is closed for the protection of Public Health and Safety. 36CFR261.53e  

2. Being on a trail. 36CFR261.55(a)
 

  EXEMPTIONS:

  Pursuant to 36CFR261.50e, the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.  Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.

2.  Any Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement Officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Resident, owners, lessees of land within the restricted area are allowed to enter only to the extent necessary to access their land.    
 

RESTRICTED AREA DESCRIPTION:

All National Forest System trails as described below and depicted on the attached Exhibit A.

The restricted area includes National Forest System trails described as follows:  A portion of Forest Service Trail 160 (Granny Mountain Trail) beginning on the State land located in T12S, R14W, Section 26, traveling south to Miller Springs Cabin located in T13S, R15W Section 36. 

A portion of Forest Service Trail 162 (Ring Canyon Trail) starting at the junction of Forest Service Trial 160 (Granny Mountain Trail) in T12S, R14W, Section 33, traveling west to the intersection of Forest Service Trial 163 (EE Trail) in T12S, R14W, Section 33.

A portion of Forest Service Trail 163 (EE Trail) in T12S, R14W, Section 33 traveling south to the intersection of Forest Service Trail 161 (Little Creek Trail) in T12S, R14W, Section 33. 

A portion of Forest Service Trail 161 (Little Creek Trail) beginning in T12S, R14W Section 33, traveling south and west to the junction of Forest Service Trail 789 (Little Creek Cutoff) located in T12S, R115W, Section 25. 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Order is for the protection of public health and safety due to the Good and Turkey Fires.  

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This order will be effective on June 11, 2020 at 4:00pm (time) and shall remain in effect until July 1, 2020 or until rescinded, whichever comes first.

2. Any violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B Misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both.  (see U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3571(b)(6), 18 U.S.C.3581 (b)(7)).

3. This Order supersedes, rescinds, and replaces any previous orders prohibiting the same act covered by this Order.

4. A complete description of the Restricted Areas and routes is described above. A Map identifying these restricted locations is attached and made a part of this Order as Exhibit A.

5. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Wilderness Ranger District Office located at 3695 Hwy 35, Mimbres, NM 88049 or by calling (575) 536-2250.

Done at Silver City, New Mexico this 11 day of June, 2020.

  /s/ Mathew Shultz
  for

Eric LaPrice

Acting Forest Supervisor            

Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.  (16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).

Location: between Blood Canyon and Brushy Mountain, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest

Start Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 5,900 acres                          Cause: Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper

Resources:  eight smokejumpers, three 20-person Interagency Hotshot Crew, and a seven-person Wilderness District crew.

Objectives and Strategy: 

The main objective for managing this fire is to keep the fire south of Little Creek Drainage, which includes preventing the fire from spotting over the Little Creek drainage. The strategy is to use the trail system and natural barriers to limit spread which is part of the confine/containment.  The agency administrator and incident manager are working on a closure order that will include Trail #160 which comes out of the Gila Center, and Trail #161 at Little Creek.

Values on these fires include public and wildland fire safety, the NM Hwy 15 corridor, private inholdings and associated infrastructure, the cultural and tourism aspect of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, the natural values of wilderness, wildlife habitat including the Gila trout, and to minimize the footprint and to have low intensity fire on the landscape.

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evenings, smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins.  Overnight smoke from the Tadpole Fire has settled in the Mimbres Valley. For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com.  Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6739/ and https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6740/.    

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Good Fire

Location: in Blood Good Canyon, Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest

Start Date:  June 6, 2020               Size:  ~ 800 acres                              Cause: Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper

Resources:  eight smokejumpers, one 20-person Interagency Hotshot Crew, and a seven-person Wilderness District crew.  

Turkey Fire

Location:  northeast of Brushy Mountain, Wilderness RD, Gila National Forest

Start Date: June 6, 2020                Size:  ~550 acres                               Cause:  Lightning

Vegetation:  Pinyon Juniper

Resources:   two 20-person Interagency Hotshot Crews  

Strategy: 

Good Fire strategy -The fire management organization is using direct and indirect tactics along trail # 160 and 161 to box in along the Little Creek drainage. The strategy is to use the trail system and natural barriers to limit spread which is part of the confine/containment.  Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6739/.

Turkey Fire strategy – The fire was a bit more active and had some growth due to being in a higher elevation. There has been success in protection spread to the south for protection of Little Creek.  Objectives include keeping the fire south of Little Creek and east of Turkey Creek Trail. Inciweb information:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6740/.

Values on these fires include public and wildland fire safety, the NM Hwy 15 corridor, private inholdings and associated infrastructure, the cultural and tourism aspect of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, the natural values of wilderness, wildlife habitat including the Gila trout, and to minimize the footprint and to have low intensity fire on the landscape.

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evenings, smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins.  Overnight smoke from the Tadpole Fire has settled in the Mimbres Valley. For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com.  

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.