Front Page News

Photos in two parts by Mary Alice Murphy

Silver City's parade route streets filled with patriots to celebrate July 4, 2025. The kids scrambled for candy, the adults cheered and clapped for floats and flatbed trailers full of championship athletes, dancers danced, SHS band played, and it all tied up at the end with llamas and horses. Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner served as grand marshal.

Panther Fire

US Forest Service - Gila National Forest (NMGNF)

WILDFIRE reported in Grant County, New Mexico         STATUS ACTIVE SIZE 30 acres

CONTAINMENT N/A                Reported 2 days ago via NMSDC Incident # 2025-NMGNF-000443

INITIAL LOCATION 3.5 miles WNW of Gila, NM                          FUELS pinon and/or juniper

INCIDENT OVERVIEW

Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team MARCUS CORNWELL – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Notification for Public Health and Safety

Update  Saturday, July 5, 2025

Work continues on the Trout Fire and Team Assumes Command of Panther Fire

Acres: 47,294                          Start Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025            Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Personnel: 228                         Containment: 89%                                                Cause: Lightning

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting June 10, 2025. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Nicholas Prince, Rudy Bencomo and Stan Snider.

The council presented Thomas Hernandez, code enforcement officer, the employee of the month award. Police Chief Freddy Portillo presented the award. Portillo said on March 5, 2025, Hernandez had been on routine patrol in the Boston Hill area near Cheyenne Street. He observed a female walking a dog without a leash. He also saw a vehicle in a parking area that belonged to the person walking the dog. Through his investigation he found the license plate to be fictitious, and her identity could not be confirmed. Hernandez continued to investigate, and the next day located the vehicle in front of the public library. Patrolman Jayden Rodriguez assisted Hernandez at the library. The female subject would not cooperate and continued to resist and obstruct. Hernandez and Rodriguez continued to be calm and professional throughout the interaction. In conjunction with CYFD it had been revealed this person had illegally taken her child away from the biological father and across state lines. They later charged her with custodial interference, a fourth degree felony. The child had been reported missing for a year and a half and was taken into protective custody and reunited with the father.

U.S. Forest Service Gila National Forest

3005 Camino del Bosque Silver City, NM 88061 Voice: 575-388-8200

Web: www.fs.usda.gov/gila 

Turkeyfeather Wildfire

Firefighters implementing a full suppression response

SILVER CITY, NM, July 4, 2025 – Started by lightning and burning in the northern portion of the Gila Wilderness, the Turkeyfeather Wildfire was reported on June 30, 2025 by the Mogollon Baldy Lookout. The fire is located west of the Middle Fork of the Gila, South of Iron Creek, and east of Cooper Canyon. To the north of Iron Creek is the burn scar from the Ridge Fire of 2024, and to the west of Cooper Canyon is this year’s Iron Fire burn scar.

The safety of firefighters, support personnel, and the public are the top priorities on this incident.

22 Miles SE from Reserve, NM

Fire Detail

Name Turkeyfeather (22 Miles SE from Reserve, NM)

Incident Type Category Wildfire                   Incident Size (Acres) 331                  Fire Cause Undetermined

Fire Discovery Date Time June 30, 2025, 3:42 p.m.              Primary Fuel Model Short Grass (1 foot)

Secondary Fuel Model Timber (Grass and Understory)            Total Incident Personnel 19

Modified Date Time July 3, 2025, 5:56 p.m.

Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team MARCUS CORNWELL – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Notification for Public Health and Safety

Update Friday, July 4, 2025

Crews remain engaged in suppression repair work through the holiday weekend

Acres: 47,294                   Start Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025                Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Personnel: 263                 Containment: 85%                               Cause: Lightning

Summary: The Trout Fire experienced a slight increase to 85% containment on Thursday, July 3, thanks to the ongoing work of incident personnel. Visitors are encouraged to review the current forest closure before traveling in the area and are asked to maintain heightened awareness this weekend. Firefighters, utility vehicles, heavy machinery, and support personnel continue working along roadways. The safety of firefighters, support personnel, and the public remains our top priority.

Good morning folks and Happy 4th of July from Grant County Office of Emergency Management Director Scot Fuller

 Despite the recent rains, Grant County is still in extreme to severe drought. However there is some good news, ERC’s have fallen to below normal due to recent rains, effectively ending the peak fire season locally. Lightning starts and erratic outflow winds around thunderstorms will continue to be possible in July.

Additional rains and lighter prevailing winds will further reduce the risk of large fire growth this month.