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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 05 April 2019 05 April 2019

Alum Fire

Location: South of Grapevine Campground, west of NM Highway15, Wilderness Ranger District

Start Date: April 5, 2019

Cause: Probable human-caused

Vegetation: Riparian area with cottonwood, ponderosa pine and pinon juniper

Resources: Silver City Hotshots, Type 2 helicopter, 3 district fire crew on horseback

Size: ~ 5-10 acres

Containment: 0%

Incident Commander: V. Alcorta

Summary: The Alum Fire, is burning on National Forest System lands, on the Wilderness Ranger District in Grant County, NM. It is located just south of the Grapevine Campground, and west of NM Hwy 15, within the boundaries of the Gila Wilderness.

Firefighters will respond on horseback to size up this fire and will engage a full suppression strategy.

Smoke from fire rises up and away during the daytime, but in the evening smoke can pool back down in canyons, drainages, and basins. This fire is within the Gila River corridor and smoke impacts are expected to be minimal.

For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire . Fire information can be found at www.nmfireinfo.com .

District Ranger Rachelle Huddleston Lorton asks the public to be aware of the potential for some increase in vehicle traffic on NM Hwy 15 and to please notify the ranger district if you have any concerns or questions about smoke impact. The Forest wishes to remind the public that all campfires need to be extinguished dead out. Do not leave your campfires unattended and do not leave until it is cool to the touch.

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