Buck Fire Update

Wednesday June 18, 2025

 Reported date: June 11, 2025                 Containment: 25%                     Cause: Lightning 

Size: 57,753                 Personnel: 330                             Fuels: Grass, timber

Strategy: Full Suppression                            Fire behavior: Torching, flanking, backing

Operations: Yesterday, the fire consumed some unburned vegetation within the interior, but overall growth remained limited despite prevailing winds and a Red Flag Warning. Firefighters made solid progress preparing contingency lines in anticipation of potential firing operations ahead of the fire's northern and northwestern edge. The most active fire behavior occurred on the northern flank, where crews observed fire creeping and some isolated and group torching. Helicopters supported suppression efforts with bucket drops until increasing wind gusts made flying unsafe.

Southwest Area Incident Management Team

TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Gusty winds challenge firefighters

Evening Update for June 17, 2025

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8984 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Acres: 24,706 Start Date: June 12, 2025

Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM Cause: Undetermined

Personnel: 875 Fuels: Grass, brush and timber Containment: 0%

Highlights: Due to dry, windy conditions and fire growth on the southeast side of the Trout Fire, evacuation levels have changed frequently throughout the day. Conditions are changing rapidly, and the public is strongly encouraged to refer to the interactive evacuation map here. Southwest Incident Management Team 4 is working in tandem with local law enforcement and emergency management officials to update evacuation information.

Fire Activity: The hot, dry, windy weather is expected to continue throughout the evening, which will contribute to very active fire behavior and spread. On the northeast side of the fire firefighters are removing vegetation between Soldier Canyon to Highway 35 to slow the progression of the fire. Fire retardant is being utilized to slow fire spread south towards Signal Peak.

Smoke is impacting local communities creating moderate to unhealthy conditions. Detailed information can be found at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net 

Evacuations as of June 17, 2025, as of 8 p.m. MDT: GO (Level 3) – Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 26

SET (Level 2) – Zones 7, 27

READY (Level 1) – Zones 28, 29

Additional evacuation areas will be identified as conditions change. View the interactive evacuation map here. https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/interactivelegend/index.html?appid=4d6aa2593621469692914966de85cfa4 

The Red Cross has established an evacuation shelter at Grant County Convention Center (3031 US-180, Silver City, NM 88061) and Cobre High School (1300 Tom Foy Blvd., Bayard, NM 88023). High Desert Humane Society will accommodate pets, and the rodeo grounds at the Southwest Horseman's Association are open to receive livestock. Weather: Temperatures remain in the mid-high 90s with extremely low humidity and wind gusts up to 35 mph.

Closures & Fire Restrictions: The Gila National Forest has issued a closure order for the area https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/alerts/trout-fire-area-closure . Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are also in place (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/alerts/stage-2-fire-restrictions) and a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect  https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_3951 

More Information:

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/nmgnf-trout-fire 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

GilaNForest Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 SANTA FE –

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today issued an emergency declaration and secured Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) in response to the Trout Fire burning in the Gila National Forest near Silver City. 

Both actions provide additional resources to assist with firefighting efforts in Grant County. More specifically, Executive Order 2025-235Executive Order 2025-235 directs the New Mexico Department of Finance Administration to allocate $750,000 to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM) for emergency response efforts including the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard. 

Dear Santa Clara, Bayard, and Hurley Communities,

In response to the ongoing wildfire situation nearby, we are setting up a Clean Air Shelter at Cobre High School to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. This facility will be available for anyone needing a safe space to escape the smoke and poor air quality.

**Details of the Clean Air Shelter:**

- **Location:** Cobre High School Cafeteria
- **Address:** 1300 Tom Foy Blvd, Bayard NM 88023
- **Opening Date:** June 17,2025
- **Hours of Operation:** As Needed based on Air conditions

ROAD CLOSURES:

CLOSURE- Silver City, Pinos Altos, Lake Roberts and Mimbres Area

Closure, NM 15 northbound and southbound from mile marker 17, 10 miles north of Pinos Altos to mile marker 22, 15 miles north of Pinos Altos. Closed due to a forest fire. Roadway to be used for evacuations only.

Closure, NM 35 eastbound from mile marker 0, at NM 152 to mile marker 27, 0.5 miles south of NM 15. Closed due to forest fire. Roadway to be used for evacuations only.

Closure, NM 152 eastbound from mile marker 2, 2 miles east of Santa Clara to mile marker 40, Kingston. Closed due to forest fire. Roadway to be used for evacuations only.

Closure, NM 356 southbound from mile marker 5, Hanover to mile marker 2 Hanover Junction. Closed due to forest fire. Roadway to be used for evacuations only.

Closure, NM 61 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 24, 1 mile south of NM 152. Closed due to forest fire. Roadway to be used for evacuations only.

This PDF document might be a good one for everyone to print and post somewhere where you can find it immediately when you need it! Download and print!

See the Learning to Live with Fire PDF below.