Silver City, NM; July 16, 2016 

Black Fire personnel continued mop-up activities on the perimeter of the fire, extending deeper into the fire and concentrating on steeper parts of the fire where rolling fire debris could potentially compromise the line. GǣMop-upGǥ is a firefighter term for making a fire safe by extinguishing or removing burning material along or near the control line, felling snags, or moving logs so they won't roll downhill.

Fire crews initiated Thunderstorm Safety protocol yesterday due to a storm cell to the south of the fire, requiring firefighters to move to a sheltered and safe place while the cell moved past. Thunderstorms can produce winds that can cause weakened trees to snap, endangering firefighters working below. Fire containment was not compromised during this time.

Thunderstorms are expected again today with isolated showers. With these thunderstorms, the potential for lightning without precipitation, or dry lightning, exists. Fire managers are ready to preposition fire resources in areas receiving active lightning down strikes in order to assess strike ignitions quickly.

Fire resources on the Black Fire may be utilized for new fire initial attack assignments if warranted and is not expected to compromise the security of the Black Fire at this point.

Temperatures will be hot again today, and fireline personnel are taking precautions to keep hydrated. Humidity ranges from 15-22% and winds are predicted to be out of the northwest at 10 mph.

The public and forest visitors are encouraged to practice fire safety by using ashtrays and extinguishing campfires completely out and cold to the touch.