Miller Fire Update July 8, 2019

Acres: 5,772

Start Date: June 29, 2019

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 322

Location: Peloncillo Mtns N.M.

Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Fire Activity: Fire activity has lessened significantly over the fire due to recent rains. Today, the fire activity in finer, grassy fuels is expected to increase as they dry out due to hotter and drier weather moving into the area. This weather pattern will continue for the next two days.

Objectives: Objectives for this lightning-caused fire include firefighter and public safety, point protection for structures in the area, and managing the fire to perform its natural role on the landscape of clearing excess vegetation, which will improve range, wildlife habitat, and watershed conditions. Our operational strategies are supporting these objectives with the actions taken on the fire ground.

Operations: Yesterday, Miller Fire personnel assisted New Mexico State Forestry with initial attack on a lightning-caused fire in the Animas River Valley.

Today, an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) will be used to map the fire’s perimeter, look for hot spots, and patrol for additional new starts from recent lightning.

Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire and are prepared for burnout operations on the upper side of the fire if indicated by today’s fuel and weather conditions. The low-intensity fire will create a buffer zone between the main fire and control lines, and achieve desired resource benefits. Smoke production can be heavy from burnout operations. Smoke will generally move in a north or northeast direction with predicted winds. Smoke and air quality information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/MillerFireAirQuaility.

Weather: Today will be sunny, warm and dry with a southwest to west 12-16 mph wind in the afternoon. Gusts up to 30 mph are expected with temperatures peaking around 90 degrees. The much drier air will result in afternoon minimum humidity levels approaching 10 percent followed by somewhat poor overnight recoveries.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Geronimo Trail Road will close without notice due to fire activity and firefighters performing burnout operations. Check the links below for the most current conditions.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoronadoNF/

NM Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Acres: 5,772

Start Date: June 29, 2019

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 336

Location: Peloncillo Mtns N.M.

Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Meeting Information: The Miller Fire public meeting was held last night at the Rodeo Community Center. We thank those who attended from surrounding communities. Video excerpts of the meeting will be posted to the Coronado National Forest Facebook page https://biturl.org/MillerPublicMeeting.

Fire Activity: In spite of recent rains, heat and hotspots are occurring throughout the fire perimeter. Fire activity in finer, grassy fuels is expected to increase as they dry out due to hotter, drier weather. This weather pattern will continue into the week. Fire activity may also increase in brushy, woody fuels.

Objectives: Objectives for this lightning-caused fire include firefighter and public safety, point protection for structures in the area, and managing the fire to perform its natural role on the landscape of clearing excess vegetation, which will improve range and wildlife habitat and watershed conditions. Our operational strategies are supporting these objectives with the actions taken on the fire ground.

Operations: Work on the Geronimo Trail Road, spur roads, and hand line has been completed in preparation for burnout operations on the upper side of the fire. The burnout may start today if weather and burning conditions permit. This will create a buffer zone between the main fire and control lines.

Smoke production can be moderate to heavy with planned burnout operations. Generally smoke will move in a north or northeast direction with predicted winds, but can move in other directions depending on specific weather conditions during the week. Smoke and air quality information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/MillerFireAirQuaility.

Weather: There is a slight chance for thunderstorms today before drier air moves into the region with gusty southwest winds later in the afternoon. Those winds will peak at 12 to 17 mph with gusts around 25 mph from the mid-afternoon hours into the early evening. Temperatures will top out in the upper 80s with the humidity dipping into the upper 20s later in the day.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Geronimo Trail Road will close without notice due to fire activity and firefighters performing burnout operations. Check the links below for the most current conditions.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6417/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoronadoNF/

NM Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Acres: 5,772

Start Date: June 29, 2019

Cause: Lightning

Total personnel: 247

Location: Peloncillo Mtns N. M.

Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Miller Fire Public Meeting Tonight

Meeting Information: Tonight’s community meeting will be held at the Rodeo Community Center at 16 Hickory St., Rodeo, New Mexico, 88056 at 5:00 MST/6:00 MDT. The meeting, as well as daily operational briefing videos, will be recorded and posted to the Coronado National Forest Facebook page.

Fire Activity: Precipitation from Friday’s storm has hindered fire activity. This has allowed firefighters to get ahead of the fire spread prior to next weeks predicted hotter, drier weather and increased fire behavior.

Objectives: 100% containment is not the goal on the Miller Fire. The objectives are to build a control line around three sides of the fire to prevent further spread, allow the fire to burn south to improve forest health, and for firefighters to actively take structure protection measures around the ranches and properties adjacent to the fire.

Operations: Control line preparation work continues today on the northern half of the fire, as well as outside the perimeter of the Bunk Robinson Wilderness Study Area. Two engines and three helicopters are dedicated to initial attack for any new fires that may arise from the lightning predicted over the next few days. Structure protection plans are being developed for values at risk south of the fire.

Weather: Clouds increasing during the afternoon with a chance for a few showers and thunderstorms again, during the afternoon and evening hours. There is potential for strong outflow winds and dry lightning with the strongest storms. Highs will be in the 80s with an afternoon minimum humidity between 25 to 30 percent. Outside of thunderstorm influences, the general winds will be light out of a south to southwest direction.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Geronimo Trail Road is currently open, but will close without notice due to fire activity and firefighters working off of the road.

Miller Fire Update July 5, 2019

Acres: 5,723

Start Date: June 29, 2019

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 0%

Total personnel: 275

Location: Peloncillo Mtns N. M.

Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Rodeo Community Meeting Saturday

Meeting Information: On July 6th, there will be a community meeting held at the Rodeo Community Center at 16 Hickory St., Rodeo, New Mexico, 88056 at 5:00 MST/6:00 MDT. The meeting, as well as daily operational briefing videos, will be recorded and posted to the Coronado National Forest Facebook page.

Fire Activity: There was minimal activity yesterday on the Miller Fire. It is still burning with low to moderate intensity in a mosaic pattern through the Bunk Robinson wilderness study area. While fire activity is expected to remain moderated, strong winds associated with thunderstorms could produce rapid fire spread. Currently, smoke is dissipating within a few miles of the incident, but there may be an increase in smoke production with next weeks predicted weather.

Operations: Helicopters are dropping water on the fire perimeter in areas wherever excessive heat production is not beneficial to forest health and to slow fire progression. Crews constructed three miles of handline east of the Bunk Robinson Wilderness Study Area boundary. Control line preparation work on the Geronimo Trail Road has been completed, but work continues today on spur roads. Two engines and three helicopters will be dedicated to initial attack on any new fires due to forecasted lightning over the next few days. Firefighters may need to conduct burnout operations if the main fire approaches portions of the control lines. With ranches, cultural sites, and other values in the area outside of the fire perimeter, firefighters are taking actions to protect these areas of concern should the fire move to threaten them.

Weather: Mostly cloudy today with a chance for a few showers and thunderstorms mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. There is potential for strong outflow winds and dry lightning with the strongest storms. Highs will be in the lower 80s with an afternoon minimum humidity between 25 to 30 percent. Outside of thunderstorm influences, the general winds will be light out of the southwest.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Geronimo Trail Road is currently open, but will close without notice due to fire activity and firefighters working off of the road. Check the Inciweb page below for updates.

There will be a community meeting on Saturday, July 6th at the Rodeo Community Center, 16 Hickory St. Rodeo, NM. The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. New Mexico time, 5:00 p.m. Arizona time. Information will be provided and questions answered about the Miller Fire.

Miller Fire Update July 4, 2019

Acres: 5,723

Start Date: June 29, 2019

Cause: Lightning

Containment: 0%

Total personnel: 151

Location: Peloncillo Mtns N. M.

Fuels: Timber, brush, and grass

Summary:

On June 29th, a lightning storm in the Peloncillo Mountains is believed to have started the Miller Fire within rough, remote country in the Bunk Robinson Wilderness Study Area. The Type 2 Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4, led by Incident Commander Carl Schwope, took over management duties of the fire this morning on the Douglas Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest. Firefighters are “spiked out” in multiple smaller fire camps surrounding the fire. The team was brought in to provide logistical, communication, and operational support for the firefighters on the fireline and communities most impacted with a primary objective of firefighter and public safety.

Fire Activity: The lightning caused Miller Fire is burning with low to moderate intensity in a mosaic pattern through the wilderness study area. The fire is currently burning in a remote uninhabited area. The current conditions allow natural fire to reduce fuel loads by decreasing woody species encroachment, such as oak, juniper, and manzanita, to increase herbaceous species production and enhance wildlife habitat.

Operations: There are ranches, cultural sites, and other values in the area outside of the current fire perimeter. Firefighters are taking actions to protect these areas of concern if the fire were to threaten them. Firefighters are actively working to improve the Geronimo Trail Road and other infrastructure to be utilized as fire control lines. Firefighters are scouting out options to construct fire control lines on the fire’s eastern side while minimizing impact to the roadless area and grazing allotments.

Weather: Today will be cloudy with a few afternoon cumulus clouds. High temperatures will peak in the middle 80s after a morning low near 65 degrees with afternoon minimum humidity levels bottoming out in the middle teens. A westerly breeze of 10 to 20 mph will develop in the afternoon with gusts of 20 to 25 mph.

Closures: There is a temporary flight restriction closure over the fire area. Citizens are encouraged to stay safely clear of fire area. The Geronimo Trail Road is currently open, but will close without notice due to fire activity and firefighters working off of the road. Check the Inciweb page below for updates.

Black Fire

The lightning-caused Black Fire is approximately 530 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 20 miles northeast of Mimbres near the Black Canyon and in very steep and rugged terrain. This fire is actively burning on all sides with some isolated single tree torching and a 5-10-acre spot fire in the area of Black Canyon.

Little Fire

The lightning-caused Little Fire is approximately 312 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Gila Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 4.5 miles west of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. This fire has black-lined itself and crossed the area of Little Creek and there is no visible smoke in the area. There are a few logs and a snag burning on the northwest side.

South Fire

The lightning-caused South Fire is approximately 780 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 30 miles north of Mimbres. The South fire is predominately moving north; with an active perimeter. The vegetation on this fire is ponderosa pine, some mixed conifer; lots of heavy fuel (dead/down) on the ground.

Woodrow Fire

The lightning-caused Woodrow Fire is approximately 380 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Gila Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is south of Mogollon Creek and south of Trail Canyon in T12S R16W section 31.

Summary: Helicopter reconnaissance shows that these naturally-ignited fires are doing good things for the land. All these fires will continue in a monitor status using lookouts and aerial reconnaissance. These fires are all exhibiting low to moderate effects, cleaning up dead and down trees, and debris from previous fires, and reducing ladder and surface fuels. There are only a few incidents of single tree torching and very few spot fires. These fires continue to help attain better forest health, improve habitat for wildlife and will improve the watershed since rainfall will be better able to reach the forest floor.

Smoke from fire rises during the daytime, but in the evening can pool 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 and on Inciweb.

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.

The lightning-caused Black Fire is approximately 150 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 20 miles northeast of Mimbres near the Black Canyon and in very steep and rugged terrain. The temperatures this afternoon reached into the mid-90’s with lower relative humidity.

The fire is burning through the Bonner Fire scar (1995) which has lots of heavy dead and down timber. Heavy timber burns hot and puts up large columns of smoke. This fire is deep in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness and fire managers have monitored it throughout the day using our lookouts. This fire and the other three fires in the Aldo Leopold and Gila Wilderness will receive additional aerial reconnaissance during the day on July 4.

Smoke from this fire may drift into Winston and towards Truth or Consequences. Smoke from fire rises during the daytime, but in the evening can pool 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 and on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6415/.

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.

Black Fire

The lightning-caused Black Fire is approximately 150 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 20 miles northeast of Mimbres near the Black Canyon and in very steep and rugged terrain.

Little Fire

The lightning-caused Little Fire is approximately 250 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Gila Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 4.5 miles west of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

South Fire

The lightning-caused South Fire is approximately 100 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 30 miles north of Mimbres.

Woodrow Fire

The lightning-caused Woodrow Fire is approximately 4 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Gila Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is south of Mogollon Creek and south of Trail Canyon in T12S R16W section 31.

Summary: Helicopter reconnaissance shows that these naturally-ignited fires are doing good things for the land. District Ranger Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton stated “the individual fires appear to be having low to moderate effects, cleaning up dead and down trees, and debris from previous fires, and reducing ladder and surface fuels. This is what we want to see – fire playing it’s natural role in the ecosystem.”

Understanding management strategy for fire within congressionally-designated wilderness – Managing fire in designated wilderness areas presents opportunities and challenges that are different than in non-wilderness areas. One of the biggest challenges is that the land manager must protect wilderness characteristics and values except under specific circumstances when life and personal property are threatened, such as search and rescue operations.

Managing wildland fire requires making decisions in a short amount of time. The land manager gathers information about plant animal life, history of fire in area, and information from local citizens and government to make decisions on how to manage the fire.

When a Forest Service manager decides to place a fire in monitor status the intent is not to “let it burn” and hope for a positive outcome. Monitoring fire means assessing the fire based on potential fire behavior, upcoming weather predictions, tracking behavior, evaluating fire effects and many other factors. Direct or indirect action may be taken to protect values at risk; managers and firefighters must be prepared to engage in a different way when that occurs.

Smoke from fire rises during the daytime, but in the evening can pool 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 and on Inciweb.

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.

Rocky Fire

The lightning-caused Rocky Fire remains at 640 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. This fire is demonstrating low fire behavior with some growth to the north and west and remains east of Forest Road 150.

South Fire

The lightning-caused South Fire remains at 3,060 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. It received some precipitation on Sunday and today, which decreased fire activity.

Woodrow Fire

The lightning-caused Woodrow Fire is 1,090 acres and 100% contained, on National Forest System lands in the Gila Wilderness.

Summary: Reconnaissance shows that these naturally-ignited fires are doing good things for the land. They are exhibiting low fire behavior. These fires will enhance the land’s ability to support the natural role of fire. Continued monsoon moistures are decreased fire spread and fire activity.

Smoke from fire rises during the daytime, but in the evening can pool 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. Smoke monitors are set up at the Gila Center, in Winston and Mimbres. Live tracking can be found at https://app.airsis.com/USFS/UnitMap for smoke monitor units USFS1054, USFS1035, and USFS1036. Fire information can be found at NM Fire Info and Inciweb.

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.