UPDATE 2 | MAY 31, 2021 | 0955 PT
GILA NATIONAL FOREST, NM — A lightning ignited wildfire was sparked on Thursday, May 20th around 00:00 hours, about 11 miles west of Gila Cliff Dwellings in Johnson Canyon, west of McKenna Park in Catron County, New Mexico.
COMMAND — M.Cornwell,ICT3; A. Jones, ICT3T.
INCIDENT COOPERATORS — USFS.
CURRENT STATUS — The fire has burn 30,826 acres of timber (grass and understory) and tall grass. Active fire behavior with flanking, backing and running.
A Community Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Doc Campbell’s Post in Gila Center off NM Hwy 15 to discuss fire operations.
STAFFING — 91 personnel. Two Interagency Hotshot Crew, one ten-person Handcrew, three ten-person Wildfire Modules, three Type 3 Engines, one Type 6 Engine, one Water Tender, and two Type 3 Helicopters including a short haul medical helicopter.
FIRE OPERATIONS — The suppression strategy for this fire is confine and contain. Yesterday the fire continued to have an active perimeter and fire behavior was moderate. Crews continued to monitor the fire as it backed toward the West Fork Gila River.
The plan for today is to continue prepping the Trail #163 in EE Canyon for future fire operations and monitor fire as it moves towards the West Fork Gila River. Crews will begin protection activities around White Creek Cabin and monitor fire as it moves towards the west.
Additionally, crews will assess structures around Gila Center, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Scorpion Campsites.
CLOSED — Additional trail closures will occur beginning June 1 for public safety. For further information please call 575-536-2250 (M-F 8:00 – 4:00 p.m.) or 575-519-0103 (any time before 9:00 p.m.).
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