SILVER FIRE
Gila National Forest, NM
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
June 7 – June 14, 2013
June 7, Friday –
Total acres – 1.5
Fire reported at 3:00p.m. Lightning is cause of fire. Point of origin is 5 miles WSW of Kingston, NM in Gila National Forest. Two engines with nine firefighters were dispatched. The firefighters hiked into the fire. A heavy air tanker and type 3 helicopter provided support to firefighters building line. A fire line was completed around the 1.5-acre fire at 9:45 p.m. Firefighters prepare to spend the night on-site.
June 8, Saturday –
Total acres – 80
At 12:30 a.m., a burning log rolls down the steep slope and crosses the fire line, igniting material below the firefighters. Within 20 minutes the fire activity has increased to the point that firefighters disengage. Two hotshot crews and five air tankers respond in the morning. Fire burned in steep terrain with heavy fuel loads and adverse weather conditions. Firefighters could not access the fire safely. There were no escape routes and safety zones. The air tankers dropped 32 loads totaling 67,000 gallons of retardant. Retardant lines completely surrounded the fire, which had grown to 80 acres. Retardant lines hold through the night. One heavy helicopter works the fire.
June 9, Sunday –
Acres burned – 1,446
Total acres – 1,526
Firefighters – 120
Containment – 0%
Perimeter of fire lined by airtankers with retardant to impede fire growth. 3 airtankers, 2 helicopters and 11 engines working fire. Various campgrounds closed. Pre-evacuation called for Kingston, NM. New Mexico Highway 152 closed.
June 10, Monday –
Acres burned – 5,174
Total acres – 6,700
Firefighters - 138
At 8:00p.m. fire transitioned from local type 3 management team to the Northern Arizona Type 2 Incident Management Team. Fire is now 6 miles west of Kingston, NM. Daily morning meetings begin in Hillsboro. Kingston, NM evacuated at 1:45a.m. Aerial attack continues.
June 11, Tuesday –
Acres burned this day – 4,800
Total acres - 11,500
Firefighters – 350
Containment – 0%
Southern portion of Aldo Leopold wilderness closed. Fire moved to within 1.5 miles west of Kingston, NM. High temperatures, low humidity and winds increased. Fire spotted across New Mexico Highway 152.
June 12, Wednesday –
Acres burned this day – 6,300
Total acres - 17,800
Firefighters – 348
Weather continued to be a challenge. Unusually strong easterly winds pushed fire to within one-quarter mile of Kingston.
June 13, Thursday –
Acres burned this day – 3,200
Total acres – 21,400
Firefighters - 478
Storm front crossed fire area bringing wind gusts, no rain. Smoke increased in local communities. Aerial attack suspended due to wind.
June 14, Friday –
Acres burned -0-
Total acres – 21,400
Firefighers – 552
Containment – 0%
Public meeting held in Mimbres. Aerial attack continued. Minimal fire growth. Considerable indirect containment line constructed and additional line planned. Containment will be reported when lines have been burned and held for sufficient time to be considered secure.
June 15, Saturday –
Acres burned - 389
Total acres – 21,789
Firefighters - 552