LS Mesa Fire Update for June 11, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 11 June 2023 11 June 2023
Crews are constructing containment lines and mopping up hot spots
SILVER CITY, NM, June 11, 2023 – The LS Mesa Fire is located approximately 9 miles east of Gila, New Mexico on New Mexico state lands and the Gila National Forest. Driven by gusty winds, the LS Mesa Fire grew to an updated 132 acres yesterday, following fuels and terrain to the northeast.
Retardant lines laid down by fixed-wing aircraft yesterday have stalled further growth of the fire, aiding with containment along the east flank. All ground crews are engaged in containment line construction, making good progress on all sides of the fire perimeter. Working in the interior, they are identifying and extinguishing sources of heat that could threaten to escape the fire’s perimeter.
The fire was reported Friday night by the Signal Peak Lookout. A combination of state and Forest Service firefighting resources are aggressively suppressing the fire, whose cause is under investigation. Responding crews include one New Mexico Forestry Division and three Forest Service fire engines, two Forest Service 10-person fire suppression modules, a New Mexico Forestry Division 5-person initial attack module, and the Silver City Hotshots. Available air resources include two Type 3 helicopters and a Type 1 helicopter, two single engine air tankers, two large air tankers, and a very large air tanker, along with a fixed-wing air attack platform to oversee aerial resources. One additional hand crew has been ordered.
Red Flag Warning 061223
CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED SUNDAY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO... ...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED MONDAY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO... .Winds are increasing this afternoon ahead of an upper-level system, especially for areas west of the Rio Grande Valley. Min RH values near 10% combine with 20 foot winds around 20 mph along with ERC values in the 85-95th percentile to create low-end red flag conditions. Winds are expected to diminish after sunset. On Monday, breezy conditions redevelop during the afternoon, setting the stage for another day of low-end red flag conditions for the lowlands of southern New Mexico. 20 foot winds will again be around 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Winds will subside after sunset Monday.
116 PM MDT Sun Jun 11 2023
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR WARM, DRY, AND BREEZY CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR
WARM, DRY, AND BREEZY CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO...
Silver City's Wild Wild West Rodeo: Day 2- 060923
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 10 June 2023 10 June 2023
Photos and article by T.A. Niles
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Day 2 crowd anticipating the action
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Teen Miss Rodeo New Mexico carries US Flag
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NM state flag bearer
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Team Roping Winner Kasey Edwards with Wrangler sponsor banner
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Baca Rodeo flag bearers
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Young performer riding in opening procession
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Teenage performers smiling in anticipation
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Is she multi-tasking?
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Amy Biebelle in opening procession
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Ava Packouz enters the arena
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Clair Biebelle, Barrels State Champion
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Must be teammates
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Future rodeo stars lead the opening procession
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Athletes during the invocation
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The action begins with bareback bronc riding
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Hang on cowboy!
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Saddle Bronc riding cowboy does it with flair
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Riding high in the saddle
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Uh oh, this ride’s almost over
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Pickup riders chase down a feisty bronc
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So close to breakaway success
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Ava Packouz delivers best performance breakaway time: 3.67
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I’m coming for ya!
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This little guy is heavy
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Little guy showing off his mutton bustin’ chops
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Nothing sheepish about this ride
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Yee haaa! No unraveling for this wild and wooly cowboy
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Bert and Francine Davis with the Muttley Crew
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Member of Muttley crew does barrels
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Almost horizontal on barrels
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Bull riding art piece
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How about a little instant replay?
If you measure success by the crowd's size and enthusiasm, Day 2 (Friday) of the Casper Baca Wild Wild West Rodeo at Southwest Horseman's Park in Silver City was an unmitigated success. That's no surprise given that we are in the southwest and that the rodeo offers something for anyone remotely connected to or interested in southwest culture. Ah, not to mention food, drink, and merchandise in vast variety.
I'm relatively new to the southwest and brand new to rodeo, but it's clear that as much fun as it is, the organizers, the participants, and the spectators take all elements of rodeo seriously…while having a blast, of course. From the git-go, it smacks you right in the face that pomp and circumstance are not just for graduations. The rodeo kick-off features the national anthem, flag waving, an invocation and participant processions (including the livestock). It is quite a spectacular sight.
Fire crews responding to LS Mesa Fire near Gila, New Mexico
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 10 June 2023 10 June 2023
Fire burning in grass, brush, pinon and juniper, driven by gusty winds
SILVER CITY, NM, June 10, 2023 – A new fire ignition was spotted Friday evening by the Signal Peak lookout, approximately 9 miles east of Gila, New Mexico on the Gila National Forest. Driven by gusty winds, the LS Mesa Fire has grown to about 125 acres, following fuels and terrain to the northeast.
Incident Commander Ed Huerta said, "Recent hot, dry and windy conditions have made fuels more receptive to fire, which is consuming heavy grasses in a pinon/juniper woodland."
The fire started on New Mexico state land in the Dorsey Mesa area and moved onto Gila National Forest. A combination of state and Forest Service firefighting resources are aggressively suppressing the fire, whose cause is under investigation. There are currently four fire engines, two 10-person suppression modules, a 5-person initial attack module responding, along with two Type 3 helicopters that are being used primarily as crew transport, and a Type 1 helicopter dropping buckets of water to cool flare ups and slow the fire's advance. Two single engine air tankers, two large air tankers, and a very large air tanker are laying down retardant. A fixed-wing air attack platform is overseeing aerial resources. Two additional hand crews have been ordered.
Gila National Forest Incident Commander – Manny Martinez Pass Fire Daily Update June 10, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 10 June 2023 10 June 2023
See map and Spanish update below.
Information Phone: 575 297-0790 Hours: 8 am-8pm
Email: 2023.Pass@Firenet.gov
Acres: 48,750
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Containment: 13%
Personnel: 54
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Timber, pinon/juniper and grass
Widespread cloud cover resulted in lower fire activity yesterday. Most of the fire activity was burning into pine stringers in Indian Creek, where the fire will most likely run into rock bluff and stop. Firefighters, using an unmanned drone, flew an operational recon mission yesterday afternoon over the southwest area of the fire.
In the southwest portion, between Brothers West and House Log Canyon, fire moved towards the Middle Fork, and continues to back through grass and available fuels towards middle fork, as expected. The Middle Fork is one of the natural barriers used to keep the fire within the perimeter.
Silver City’s Wild, Wild West Rodeo: Day 1 - 060823
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 09 June 2023 09 June 2023
Photos and article by T.A. Niles
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The crowd is ready for action.
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Tractor getting the dirt ready for the rodeo to begin.
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Riding in the Grant Entry
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Another Grand Entry participant
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More flag carrying
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The flag of New Mexico
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Ready to ride in matching outfits
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Rodeo Clown Bob Weir
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Almost ready to ride out on those rowdy bulls
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Rogue bull or has he already shed his rider?
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Hanging on!
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In the dunk tank - ready to get wet!
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One of the attractions for the kids
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Just some of the sponsors underneath the announcer's booth
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Just in case one didn't know who was running the show
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In case you were hungry - fry bread fresh and ready to eat.
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Jerky for a snack
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a line up of vendors ready to outfit anyone for a rodeo
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Is the dog guarding the jewelry?
They say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and while I often ponder the truth of that saying, in this instance I hope it will suffice. Here are a few images from Day 1 of the Renegade Rodeo tour stop hosted by the Southwest Horseman’s Association and presented by Casper Baca Rodeo Company.