Rocky Fire

The lightning-caused Rocky Fire is approximately 350 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.

Lilley Fire

This lightning-caused fire was reported today, is burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. This fire will be monitored via visual reconnaissance.

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. Monsoon moistures are expected by mid-week which will reduce fire growth.

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.

Rocky Fire

Incident Start Date: July 8, 2019 Cause: Lightning

Acres: ~275 Containment: 0%

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground

Strategy: Continue to scout and prepTrail #741, #74 and prep Forest Road 150.

Incident Commander: A. James, ICT3

South Fire

Incident Start Date: June 29, 2019 Cause: Lightning

Acres: ~2,800 Containment: 0%

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground

Strategy: Monitor via lookouts and aerial reconnaissance

Incident Commander: A. James, ICT3

Summary: Helicopter reconnaissance shows that these naturally-ignited fires are doing good things for the land. They are exhibiting low to moderate fire behavior. These fires will enhance the land’s ability to support the natural role of fire. The fire management officers will continue to look at management opportunities to direct the fire around values we want to protect.

District Ranger Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton requests that the public be keenly aware of the additional fire-related traffic on Forest Road 150 and decrease speed particularly around corners. Today, there will be firefighters directing traffic and wait times up to 30-45 minutes are possible. Please follow all traffic control directions to enhance firefighter and public safety.

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.

Rocky Fire

Incident Start Date: July 8, 2019 Cause: Lightning

Acres: ~85 Containment: 0%

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground

Strategy: Continue to scout Trail #741 and #74 to evaluate the necessity to prep and protect private property at Cooney and Terry Canyon.

Incident Commander: A. James, ICT3

South Fire

Incident Start Date: June 29, 2019 Cause: Lightning

Acres: ~2,330 Containment: 0%

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground

Strategy: Monitor via lookouts and aerial reconnaissance

Incident Commander: A. James, ICT3

Summary: Helicopter reconnaissance shows that these naturally-ignited fires are doing good things for the land. They are exhibiting low to moderate fire behavior. These fires will enhance the land’s ability to support the natural role of fire. The fire management officers will continue to look at management opportunities to direct the fire around values we want to protect.

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.

Incident Start Date: June 29, 2019 Cause: Lightning

Acres: ~1,682 Containment: 0%

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground

Strategy: Monitor via lookouts and aerial reconnaissance

Incident Commander: A. James, ICT3

Summary:

The lightning-caused South Fire is approximately 1,680 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 30 miles north of Mimbres. Values include various threatened and endangered species, and one private in-holding, and Forest Service infrastructure.

Fire is 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. This fire will continue to reduce hazardous fuels accumulation to prevent future catastrophic events.

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/6414/.

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.

Incident Start Date: June 29, 2019 Cause: Lightning

Acres: ~800 Containment: 0%

Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground

Strategy: Monitor via lookouts and aerial reconnaissance

Incident Commander: T. James, ICT3

Summary:

The lightning-caused South Fire is approximately 800 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 30 miles north of Mimbres. Values include various threatened and endangered species, and one private in-holding, and Forest Service infrastructure.

Fire is 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. This fire will continue to reduce hazardous fuels accumulation to prevent future catastrophic events.

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/6414/.

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 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.

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.

Forest Service Alpine Ranger District Fire Info Line:

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (928) 333-3412

30 S Chiricahua Drive

Springerville, AZ 85938

(928) 333-6280

Web: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

Twitter: @A_SNFs

www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnf

Alpine Ranger District Fire Update July 4, 2019

COLEMAN FIRE: Final Update

Incident Start Date: 6/29/2019 Cause: Lightning/ Natural Size: 990 acres Containment: 100%

Incident Type: Wildfire Vegetation Type: Timber & Short Grass Total Personnel: 4 personnel

Current Situation: Crews completed all burn out operations yesterday, bringing the fire to 100% containment. Smoke may be visible from the Coleman Fire as pockets of unburned fuels continue to burn within the fire perimeter.

This will be the last update for the Coleman Fire unless significant events occur.

Smoky Conditions Remain in the Area: Smoke from the Coleman Fire may be visible from Alpine, State Highway 191, south of Alpine and in the vicinity of the Campbell Blue River. Light smoke may continue to impact Campbell Blue and the Blue community.

BLUE RIVER FIRE:

Incident Start Date: 6/29/2019 Cause: Lightning/ Natural Size: 340 acres Containment: 10%

Incident Type: Wildfire Vegetation Type: Timber & Short Grass Total Personnel: 46

Current Situation Minimal activity was observed on the Blue River Fire on Wednesday. Fire managers are monitoring this fire and are prepared to take action if private or public assets are threatened. This low-intensity fire is being managed to reintroduce fire into the ecosystem, restore natural fire regimes, and remove excess fuels, thus reducing the risk of a more severe, high intensity wildfire later.

If conditions warrant, burn out operations may occur along control lines around the Blue River Ranch.

Smoky Conditions Remain in the Area: Smoke from the Blue River Fire may be visible from Alpine, the Blue River road going south of Alpine and in the vicinity of Campbell Blue drainage. Light smoke may continue to impact Campbell Blue and the Blue community.

Visitor Information: If you are sensitive to smoke, visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website at http://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/extreme-weather/index.php#wildfires-home for additional information regarding the dangers of wildfire and prescribed burn smoke and wildfire preparedness.

• Northeastern Arizona Public Information System: http://311info.net/ or call 311 or 928.333.3412
• Arizona Fire Restrictions: http://firerestrictions.us/az/
• Fire Restrictions and Red Flag Alerts: http://wildlandfire.az.gov/
• Wildfires Near Me: http://www.wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/

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Forest Service Blue River Fire Info Line:

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (928) 333-3412

30 S Chiricahua Drive

Springerville, AZ 85938

(928) 333-6280

Web: www.fs.usda.gov/asnf

Twitter: @A_SNFs

www.facebook.com/apachesitgreavesnf

Blue River Fire Update July 3, 2019

Incident Start Date: 6/29/2019 Cause: Lightning/ Natural Size: 340 acres

Containment: 0% Incident Type: Wildfire Vegetation Type: Timber & Short Grass Suppression Strategy: Point/Zone Protection Total Personnel: 34

Resources Assigned: 2 Engines, 1- 20 person crew, 1-7 person module, 1 water tender.

Current Situation: On June 30, 2019, Fire managers received a report of smoke in the vicinity of Campbell Blue drainage west of Blue River Ranch. Due to rugged terrain and an abundance of snags and debris from the 2011 Wallow Fire, this naturally occurring low intensity fire will be used to reintroduce fire into the ecosystem, restore natural fire regimes, and remove excess fuels. Ground crews and air resources will monitor this fire and take action as necessary to protect values at risk.

Today’s Plan: Fire personnel will focus on protection of Blue River Ranch and power-lines as well as monitor the fire perimeter growth.

Smoky Conditions Remain in the Area: Smoke from the Blue River Fire may be visible from Alpine, the Blue River road going south of Alpine and in the vicinity of Campbell Blue drainage. Light smoke may continue to impact Campbell Blue and the Blue community.

Visitor Information: If you are sensitive to smoke, visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website at http://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/extreme-weather/index.php#wildfires-home for additional information regarding the dangers of wildfire and prescribed burn smoke and wildfire preparedness.

There are no closures or restrictions relating to this fire.

• Northeastern Arizona Public Information System: http://311info.net/ or call 311 or 928.333.3412

• Arizona Fire Restrictions: http://firerestrictions.us/az/

• Fire Restrictions and Red Flag Alerts: http://wildlandfire.az.gov/

• Wildfires Near Me: http://www.wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/