Location:

Reserve Ranger District on the Gila National Forest
John Kerr Peak, 17 miles northeast of Reserve
Catron County, New Mexico

Start Date: May 1, 2017

Size: 175 acres

Cause: Lightning

Vegetation: Ponderosa Pine, Gamble Oak, Pinon/Juniper

Smoke: Smoke may be visible within the surrounding area of Apache Creek, Cruzville, Aragon, and Reserve, NM

Resources: 3 engines, Gila Hotshots Incident Commander: Joe Aragon, IC-4

Summary: The Kerr Fire is burning on National Forest lands. Values at risk include Continental Divide trail which is located east of the fire, range improvement infrastructure and Mexican Spotted Owl habitat. CDT hikers in the area are advised to check in with the Reserve Ranger District office at 575.533.6232 for alternate routes in order to avoid fire activity. Maps of alternative routes are available at the district office, on the Gila NF website and on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5171/.

Fire operations continued yesterday evening along the ridgetop and went well. All fences within the area are prepped. Minimal isolated torching has occurred. TodayGÇÖs operations are planned to continue firing from FR 289B towards Fr 7037N. This fire is reducing the fuel load and helping with restoring healthy regrowth and watershed restoration.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila