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TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NM, July 13, 2024 – The Paramount Fire was reported July 12 near milepost 20, north of New Mexico Highway 59 on the Gila National Forest, Black Range Ranger District, about 19 miles west of Winston, New Mexico. Currently approximately 5 acres, the fire was ignited by lightning within the Indian Peaks project area. Paramount Fire is burning in easily accessible terrain with an existing road system that will be used to confine and contain the fire within an area of 1,335-acres.

Existing roads to be used as containment features include Forest Roads 4070U on the west side, Forest Road 4066Z on the north and east, and New Mexico Highway 59 to the south. It has been covered by past planning and analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and multiple prescribed and wildfires have occurred around the vicinity in the last 5 – 7 years.

“This particular area of the forest last burned in 2019. Frequent, low- to moderate-intensity fire is critical for maintaining healthy Southwest forest ecosystems, watersheds, and wildlife habitats, as well as reducing the hazardous fuels that put local communities at risk,” said Black Range District Ranger Bret Mellott. “However, I do recognize that the smoke from fires can have harmful effects on local residents and forest visitors, so I don’t take this decision lightly.”

Weather and fuels conditions are appropriate for carrying a surface fire, while limiting intensities to avoid damaging fire impacts. The forecast calls for strong chances of significant rainfall to arrive beginning Sunday or Monday, which is likely to limit the duration of the Paramount Fire to the next several days. 

A variety of tactics will be used, such as using heavy equipment to improve the forest roads, cutting back fuels along planned perimeters as needed, hand ignitions, and other suppression tactics as changing conditions require to bring low- to moderate-intensity fire out to control features and establish containment. 

Smoke may impact the communities of Winston and Chloride and is likely to settle into low lying areas during overnight and early morning hours. When smoke impacts are present, New Mexico Department of Health recommends that smoke sensitive individuals should reduce physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. For those who are unable to avoid smoke exposure, use of a particulate respirator mask can help. Additional air quality information and health protection measures are posted online at NM-Tracking - Fires, Smoke and Health. Real-time mapping of smoke and other air quality impacts is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov.

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