LUNA, NM; May 31, 2016 - The lightning-caused Spur Fire on the Quemado Ranger District of the Gila National Forest is now approximately 1,512 acres. To date, crews have been successful in implementing the confine and contain strategy using Forest Road 3020 on the north, Road 49 (Toriette Lake Rd) to the east and a two track road on the west. There are 133 personnel assigned to the incident.

Observed fire behavior remains low to moderate in the interior as the fire moves south against the rocky bluffs of Dillon Mountain. This type of fire behavior will assist in removing dead and down fuel from the forest floor and raising ladder fuels (those low tree limbs and shrubs that allow fire to climb from the surface into the tops of trees with relative ease) thereby meeting the objective of reducing hazardous fuels and the risk of high severity fires in the future. While private landowner and grazing permittees support this fire activity, critical pastures for livestock are being kept out of the fire perimeter so their ranching operations are not affected. This level of planning would not be possible without the communication of all the partners and the Incident Management Team.

While there are no closure orders or trail restrictions in place, forest users may want to consider camping in one of the many other remarkable areas of the Quemado Ranger District to avoid smoke and road traffic from fire equipment. Information is also posted on Inciweb http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4746/ , NM Fire info https://nmfireinfo.com/, Twitter @gilanforest and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GilaNForest.

Start date: 5/21/16
Resources: 133 personnel (4 crews, 3 engines, 1 helicopter and 1 water tender)
Containment: 30%, long-term event
Injuries/ Illness: 1