SILVER CITY, NM; Feb. 23, 2016  Silver City Ranger District personnel responded to a fire located at the Arrastra-Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Trailhead off FR 4258 near Pinos Altos, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. The human-caused fire was reported by members of the public visiting the Arrastra Interpretive site.

The fire destroyed most of the wooden elements of the arrastra. GǣThese sites are important to our history and communities in and around Silver City,Gǥ says Diane Taliaferro, Silver City District Ranger, GǣWe really appreciate being notified by the public of this situation.Gǥ

Archaeological resources are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) of 1979. Penalties for damaging or destroying these resources may include fines and, in some cases, jail time. Factors determining these penalties include the monetary value of the archaeological resource and the cost of repairing it. The Gila National Forest is currently conducting a damage assessment of the site.

Arrastras were a common type of mill used in this area to crush gold ore during the 1800s. In Spanish, G