Incident: Silver Fire Wildfire
Released: 17 min. ago

North End of Silver Fire Remains Active – The north end of the Silver Fire remains active and a smoke column reaching 46,000 feet into the sky was visible today.

Firefighters on the northeast side of the fire worked on strengthening existing containment line by conducting a burnout operation. Today’s operations did not affect the residents of Kingston who were allowed back into their homes yesterday. On the northwest side of the fire, firefighters spent the day scouting the steep timbered country along the continental divide looking for old prescribed burn areas to tie into for a containment line. The fire remains at about 44,600 acres and about 20 percent contained. The southern half of the fire shows little activity and no threat is posed to the Royal John Mine.

Strong winds have posed a challenge to firefighters over the last few days. Today was no different as a combination of smoke and turbulence resulted in the helicopters working the fire to be grounded. The hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.

Approximately 70 residents attended a public meeting in San Lorenzo this evening. Fire managers and forest officials described current fire activity, planned containment strategies and touched on post-fire recovery.

Motorists are reminded that the 25-mile route on NM State Highway 61 from its junction with NM 152 to U.S. Highway 180 is open. Motorists traveling along NM 61 pass through the communities of San Juan, Sherman, and the City of Rocks State Park. Forest and road closure information can be found at: http://fs.usda.gov/gila or www.nmroads.com.

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Red Flag Warning to Challenge Firefighters

Incident: Silver Fire Wildfire
Released: 13 hrs. ago

A red flag warning is in effect for the Silver Fire area today and will continue to challenge firefighters. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the warnings are issued to warn fire managers about “critical weather and fuel moisture conditions that could lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity.” Warnings are generated as a result of low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, or a combination of these factors. A similar warning was in effect for the fire area yesterday when the fire grew to 44,600 acres. Containment remains at 20 percent.

A public meeting will be held tonight at the Round Up Lodge in San Lorenzo at 6 p.m. to provide information on the current status of the fire and to answer questions from the public.

Silver Fire resources include five helicopters, five 20-person hotshot crews, four 20-person hand crews, 15 engines, one dozer and eight water tenders for 498 total personnel.

Cooperators include the Grant and Sierra County Sheriff’s Departments, NM State Police, Las Cruces BLM District, NM State Forestry and NM Department of Transportation.

Forest and road closure information can be found at: http://fs.usda.gov/gila and www.nmroads.com.

Silver Fire updates can be found on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3414. For additional fire information visit the following websites: www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM, www.flickr.com/gilaforest, www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM.

Source: InciWeb.

Reblogged: 6/21/13 2058 PDT

 

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