Silver City, NM; July 23, 2016 - The Black Range Complex Fires on the Black Range Ranger District consist of four fires: the Kline and Cooney Fires started July 8, the Corduroy Fire on July 17, and the Boiler Fire on July 18. These lightning-caused fires are located in the Black Range Mountains, 65 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences, NM. As these fires burn, pre-determined management areas have been designated for fire management. The Black Range Complex Fires are currently 10% contained. There are currently 98 fire personnel assigned. Due to a reduction in visible smoke on the Black Range Complex Fires, daily information updates are currently being posted from Beaverhead to Winston, and will change as fire activity dictates.
Yesterday, Cooney and Kline Fire personnel assisted Forest Service Resource Advisors with rehabilitation inventories and continued recording fire behavior and effects for documentation. Crews on the Cooney Fire conducted snagging operations removing fire weakened hazard trees along Wolf Hollow trail. The Boiler Fire remains in monitoring status. The Black Range Complex received an additional 1/10Gǥ of precipitation across the fires, accompanied by lightning. Fire personnel will continue to be removed from fire line operations for their safety when thunderstorms accompanied by lightning intensify over the fire area.
Today and Sunday, fire crews on the Cooney Fire will continue to conduct snagging operations removing hazard trees along Wolf Hollow trail. Kline Fire personnel will continue to assist Forest Service Resource Advisors with rehabilitation inventories and record fire behavior and effects for documentation. The Boiler Fire remains in monitoring status.
The extended weather forecast for the Black Range Complex Fires today through Sunday calls for additional isolated showers and thunderstorms continuing each afternoon and evening into next week. Smoke conditions will be visible only within close proximity to fire perimeters. There have been no evacuations associated with the Black Range Complex.
A temporary Area Closure Order has been issued for the vicinity of the Black Range Complex Fires. All National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the closure area are closed to public use. Road closures and trails include: Highway 59, south and east of County Road 21 and 23 to Double Springs, east of Yellow Springs Trail (Trail No. 53), north of Greenfly Trail (Trail No. 26), and west of FR 150. This area includes Wolf Hollow Campground, the trail, and the Gravel Pit area on FR 4064T. This also includes the area of the Continental Divide Trail between the junction of FR 220A and Highway 59. Please detour west along FR 226A north on FR 226 to re-enter the CDT at Highway 59.
For more information, please contact the Fire Information Line at: (575) 772-5747 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. located at the Incident Command Post at Beaverhead Work Center or visit the New Mexico Fire Information website at www.nmfireinfo.com; and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. Also, you can find additional information at