Photo by Walter "Ski" Szymanski taken this morning
COMMUNITY MEETING
JUNE 12 10 a.m.
HILLSBORO COMMUNITY CENTER.
Representatives fromthe Incident Managment Team and the Black Range District of the Gila National Forest will be present to provide an update on the Silver Fire and answer questions.
The Silver Fire is located on the Gila National Forest, east of Silver City, just west of the community of Kingston, NM. The fire is growing generally eastward.
An evacuation order is in place for Kingston as of June 10 at 1:40 a.m.
Highway 152 is closed through the Black Range, from San Lorenzo to Hillsboro. There is no estimate of reopening at this time.
The Royal John Road is closed to the public, but residents are being allowed access at this time.
The Silver Fire was started by lightning on June 7 approximately 7 miles southwest of Kingston, New Mexico. Smoke is visible from Highway 152 and Silver City, as well as Interstate 10 near Deming, NM.
Firefighters have been taking an active suppression approach since initial response to the Silver Fire. They are challenged by extremely rough terrain, a substantial amount of unburned fuel and beetle-killed trees, and extreme fire conditions. Firefighters are working on point protection around structures, roads and area campgrounds.
Follow the Silver Fire on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SilverFireNM and Twitter at www.twitter.com/SilverFireNM (@SilverFireNM).
Maps and Photos are available to view, download and print free on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/gilaforest/
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Lightning
Date of Origin Friday June 07th, 2013 approx. 03:00 PM
Location Southwest of Kingston
Incident Commander Matt Reidy
Current Situation
Total Personnel 350
Size 8,400 acres
Fuels Involved
Pinyon pine/juniper, ponderosa
Fire Behavior
Backing fire, single and group tree torching with passive short run crown fire in the mixed conifer; fire behavior was generally terrain and fuel driven.
Significant Events
Focus is on point protection and structure protection in Kingston and other values at risk. Continued recon in all divisions to develop viable suppression strategies given the challenges with fuels and topography, with priority on providing for public and firefighter safety.
Outlook
Planned Actions
For the upcoming operation period, crews will continue point protection and structure protection in and around Kingston along with other areas; Construct line on the east side of the fire, north and south of Highway 152. Continue scouting NW of the fire area.
Growth Potential
Extreme
Terrain Difficulty
Extreme
Current Weather
Temperature 94 degrees
Humidity 11%
SILVER CITY, NM. The Silver Fire continues to burn actively and has spotted to the north across New Mexico Highway 152; Kingston is one half mile east of the fire. Areas near the Upper Gallinas and Iron Creek Campgrounds along Highway 152 burned actively late in the afternoon producing several large columns of smoke visible from as far away as Deming. The fire has grown to 8,400 acres and continues to be managed under a full suppression strategy. Weather forecasts call for continuing high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions through Thursday. Due to these conditions and the amount of dry beetle killed pine, the fire is expected to remain active and continue to grow. A public meeting has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the Hillsboro Community Center.
Ground forces scouted areas and started construction of firelines on the east and south portions to continue the suppression of the fire. Protection is in place for the community of Kingston, forest campgrounds and roads. More than 350 personnel are assigned to the fire including eight hotshot crews, two 20-person crews, five helicopters, 12 engines, and two dozers.
New Mexico State Route 152 remains closed through the Black Range from San Lorenzo to Hillsboro and the Royal John Road is closed to the public but remains open to residents.