McKenna Fire Update
MIMBRES, NM; May 16, 2016 - Work continues on the 9,050-acre McKenna Fire located in the Gila Wilderness. Today, crews packed into the fire area, monitored activity, cleared trails and prepared for potential fire growth. About 12 personnel are assigned to the incident that began May 6. The fire is being managed to reduce hazardous fuels, remove forest debris and return fire to the ecosystem.

The McKenna Fire is moving slowly on the ground with most of the growth on the southwest corner. About 20 percent of the fire perimeter is active. The fire did not get as much precipitation as recorded in Silver City over the weekend. A Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) has been placed in proximity to the fire to relay weather observations more specific to the area. This information will help managers evaluate potential hazards for firefighters and plan for future actions.

Smoke from the McKenna Fire is moving to the northeast. Smoke monitoring equipment is installed at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument to track smoke production. For people concerned about the smoke, New Mexico Department of Public Health has a website that recommends actions people can take if visibility decreases due to smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires, https://nmtracking.org/fire 

Visitors to the Gila Wilderness need to be aware of an increase in animals on the trails around the McKenna Fire during the management of this incident. When animals are encountered along the trail, foot travelers should step several paces off the trail on the downhill side. Horses and pack mules tend to shy from people on foot. In dangerous places such as ledge trails, backtrack to a safe place to step off the trail.

Updates will be posted on Inciweb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4716/ . For more information contact Punky Moore, Public Affairs Officer, 575-388-8211.