Three Big Fires, Gila NF

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/20/2006, 6:21 pm Post subject: Three Big Fires, Gila NF

New Mexico Number of fires: 5 Acres: 34,104 New fires: 4
Fires contained: 4
WFU Fires: 0 WFU Acres: 0 WFU New Fires: 0
NEW Bear (Gila National Forest): 7,000 acres at zero percent contained. This fire is 17 miles northeast of Glenwood in mixed conifer. Local residents and campers were evacuated. Numerous cabins, outbuildings, campgrounds and Negrito Mountain lookout are threatened. Torching, spotting and crowning were reported.
Information: Call 505-533-6231, 1-877-971-FIRE (3473), or visit the Southwest Area Incident Information web site.

Reserve Complex (Gila National Forest): 13,400 acres at 30 percent contained. This fire is near Reserve in ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, juniper and grass. Hot, dry conditions, difficult terrain and limited access continue to impede containment efforts. Numerous residences, commercial property, archeological sites, and critical wildlife habitat areas remain threatened. Line preparation for burn out operations continues on both fires. Spotting across Wilson Canyon on the Wilson fire was reported.
Information: Call 505-533-6904, 1-877-971-FIRE (3473), or visit the Southwest Area Incident Information web site.

Skates (Gila National Forest): 11,904 acres at 40 percent contained. This fire is located 12 miles northeast of Silver City. Numerous residences remain threatened. Evacuations remain in place for Upper Mimbres Valley and Lake Roberts areas. State highway 35 remains closed. Minimal fire activity and isolated singled tree torching was reported.
Information: Call 505-388-8245, 1-877-971-FIRE (3473), or visit the Southwest Area Incident Information web site.

PageRob · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 859 Location: Page, Az.

Geeze, that Reserve one sounds like its some serious buisness. That's good wolf and spotted owl habitat through that area...
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CatValet · Posted: 6/20/2006, 9:22 pm Post subject:

Crap, there goes my July 4th Plan B.......porridge shame too. I've been afraid for that area for some time.

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/21/2006, 5:21 am Post subject:

Had you plans to backpack in the Gila? You may still be able to backpack near Hannagan Meadow here in the A-S forest as soon as they finish mopping up the Beaverhead Fire. 191 is still closed, but I think it will re-open soon, and you could go to Bear Wallow Wilderness, Fish Creek, KP or Mainstem Black River. Nice backpacking trips, all of those. Call Alpine RD for more info. It's very dry but not as dry as the Gila. One reason is the different soil type they have over in New Mexico. I was down at KP campground recently--it was quite green.

As for the wolves PageRob mentioned, there aren't very many left. None with radio collars anymore, and only a few left that never got collared. That project cost millions of bucks and wasn't completely successful, and is now more or less on hold. I don't know if or when they will start it up again.

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/26/2006, 9:23 am Post subject:

Latest info on the biggest fire:
Bear Fire
The Bear Fire is on the Reserve District of the Gila National Forest, in the Bearwallow Mountain area approximately 17 miles east of Alma. It's estimated at 50,688 acres and moving northeast. The fire is 44% contained. The fire perimeter in the Gila Wilderness remains active and some threat to structures along Willow Creek in the southwest corner of the fire remains. Thunderstorms Sunday produced significant winds but they was modified by rain over the last two days. Crews continue to build line, protect structures and mop-up. There are 870 people on this fire.

Tom Treks · Gear Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347

At the rate this is all going, the whole SW is going to be a charred mess sooner or later.

What a bummer. How many of those fires are "human caused"?

Hnak · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 1766 Location: Prescott, AZ

Well, it IS reducing the fire danger..... Rolling Eyes

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The world is older and bigger than we are. This is a hard truth for some folks to swallow. —EDWARD ABBEY

IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/27/2006, 7:09 am Post subject:

The fires on the Gila I think are mostly lightning caused. Some stuff really does need to burn, no matter what the cause of ignition. Sorry guys, but it's a fact. Take a biology class.

azbackpackr · Posted: 6/28/2006, 6:53 pm Post subject:

Update on the Bear Fire:

InciWeb - Wildland Fire and Incident Information System
Incident: Bear Wildfire
Released: 2006-06-28 10:01:00

Over the past four days, rain has fallen on the Bear Fire which significantly slowed fire activity. Because of persistent precipitation, firefighters have been able to limit the fire to 51,307 acres. Located 15 miles northeast of Glenwood, New Mexico; the fire is 87 percent contained.

Tuesday, firefighters monitored and patrolled northern sections of the fire, mopped up segments of line on the southern side and started rehabilitation of firelines on the west side of the fire. Incident Commander, Mike Dietrich commented about today’s operations, “It was a good day and we are making preparations for a smooth transition with the Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team.”

The transition to Beth Lund’s Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team started Tuesday and the formal transfer of command will take place Thursday evening. Lund’s team will assume command of the Bear Fire and the Reserve Complex.

Continued progress on the fire has resulted in many resources being reassigned to other fires in New Mexico, Arizona, California & Nevada. Resources still assigned to the Bear Fire include 641personnel, two helicopters, 22 engines, 9 dozers, and 13 water tenders.

The evacuations that took place in the Willow Creek, Snow Lake and N-Bar Ranch areas as well as the Forest Service Negrito Fire Center are still in place. Closures associated with the Bear Fire will stay in effect until hazardous dead standing trees throughout the burned area can be removed from roads and there is assurance that fire in the Little Turkey Creek area is no longer a threat.

In the early stages of the fire, the residents of Mogollon voluntarily agreed to evacuate. This agreement allowed personnel to concentrate efforts on the advancing fire. Today, the road barrier on the west side of Mogollon will be moved 2 miles east of town to allow residents and visitors to return. Mogollon is adjacent to an area that remains closed to public entry. Incident Commander Mike Dietrich extends his gratitude to the citizens of Mogollon, “We greatly appreciate your help with our firefighting efforts. Thank you very much!”

While fire related area closures are still in effect on the Gila National Forest, there are many other recreation areas that are open, such as Quemado Lake, Head of the Ditch campground, Catwalk Recreation Trail and Pueblo Park campground. Please enjoy our public lands and recreate safely. The Gila National Forest remains in Stage II Fire and Smoking Restrictions. Campfires are not allowed, except in the developed campgrounds around the Quemado Lake area. Off-road travel is also prohibited under Stage II restrictions. Underwriter’s approved petroleum-fueled stoves and lanterns are still allowed. Remember that possession and or use of any type of pyrotechnic devices including fireworks are illegal in the national forest.

***Please note: Starting Thursday, 6/29/06, Fire Information for the Bear and Reserve Complex will be: 505-533-6901***

For public and firefighter safety, an area and road closure has been implemented surrounding the Bear Fire. The closure is bounded on the west side by Devil’s Park, the Forest boundary with the town of Mogollon, and the boundaries between the Gila Wilderness and Gila National Forest; on the south side by Mogollon Creek, Little Creek and all Forest System (FS) trails along those creeks; on the east side by EE Canyon, FS Trail 813, just west and north of FS Trail 28, 164, and 729, Indian Creek Canyon, FS Road 142, and the forest boundary with state and private lands; and on the north side by FS Road 30, Collins Park, the North Fork of Negrito Creek and FS Road 141. Also restricted are these roads:

- FS 141 beginning south of the Village of Reserve.

- FS 28 beginning at Collins Park and ending just east of the town of Mogollon.

- FS 142 from the junction with FS 28 to the boundary with private property.

- FS 30 from the junction with FS 28 to the boundaries with private property in T8S, R15W, Sec. 21, 27, 28 and 34 and ending at the boundary with private property in T9S, R14W, Sec. 5.

- FS119 beginning east of the private land boundary in Copper Creek.

- All FS Roads and FS Trails comprising the boundaries and situated within the boundaries of the restricted area are closed and prohibited from use.

For a map of the restricted area and roads, or any other questions about the Bear Fire, please contact the Reserve Ranger District office at 533-6231.

For additional information about the Bear Fire and other fires throughout the Southwest, please refer to any of these internet sites:

http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/

http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/index.htm

http://www.nmfireinfo.com

http://inciweb.org

Updates on the Bear Fire will be provided daily or as new information becomes available.
Unit Information
Gila National Forest
3005 East Camino del Bosque
Silver City, NM 88061