Reported date: June 11, 2025
Containment: 0%                Cause: Lightning
Size: 35,190              Personnel: ~225            Fuels: Grass, timber
Strategy: Full Suppression

Fire behavior: Flanking, creeping, isolated torching

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters continued efforts to strengthen control lines in preparation for future firing operations and to slow active fire spread to the north and northeast. Gusty, erratic winds contributed to another day of increased fire activity and growth. Aviation resources focused on applying retardant along the northern and northwestern flanks to help limit fire progression and support crews scouting for additional containment opportunities. The fire remained northwest of Forest Road 163 as firefighters and engines worked to secure the southeastern perimeter. Firing operations proved
successful within Shaw Canyon to limit further spread to the east. Point protection around Garcia Camp was also accomplished as fire approached the area. Resources stayed engaged overnight, patrolling for hotspots and reinforcing containment lines.

By Michael LaReaux

Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the state flag salute, the Grant County Commission at its regular March 27, 2025 meeting approved the agenda with a unanimous vote.

The Commission then opened up the floor for public comment. Paul Forman took the podium and spoke about the challenges that Highway 35 poses for those who ride side-by-side ATVs. Despite following all applicable laws, including purchasing insurance and properly registering his vehicle, forman claimed that he was unable to use his vehicle because the rules governing Highway 35 made it impossible. “You’re locked down. Maybe a mile and a half, two miles where you can ride them,” he said. According to Forman, many of municipalities, including Bayard, Santa Clara, Silver City, and Cliff have places to ride, but thanks to Highway 35, he does not. The problem, as he interpreted it, is that he would have to run his vehicle at top speed in order to maintain the highway’s speed limit. He disagrees that this is even necessary. “No law that says I have to run 55 miles per hour.” He acknowledged that there is a law against impeding the flow of traffic, but he believed that by giving way to passing vehicles, he could avoid doing so. He closed his statement with the hope that something could be done. 

Please see the PDF below. Or visit this LINK, which is interactive: https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/interactivelegend/index.html?appid=4d6aa2593621469692914966de85cfa4 

By Mary Alice Murphy

In a brief meeting this morning, Grant County commissioners heard resolution R-25-41, read by County Manager Charlene Webb. It deals with the need for extra resources to address the Trout Fire, which ignited on Thursday, June 12, 2025, and had grown to more than 12,000 acres bySunday morning.

Numerous residents of the Upper Mimbres and Sapillo Creek areas have evacuated because of the closeness of the Trout Fire. It is burning rapidly through areas in the Gila National Forest that have burned in the recent past.

PHOENIX, AZ, June 16, 2025 – Freeport has again been named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States with its inclusion on The Civic 50 list that recognizes corporate volunteerism and community engagement.

Freeport has made the list 12 times since its inception in 2012. The list is compiled by the Points of Light Foundation, a nonpartisan global nonprofit organization. It recognizes companies with annual U.S. revenues of at least $1 billion that show outstanding achievement in investment of resources, stakeholder engagement and volunteerism that is embedded in their policies and demonstrate measurable impacts.

"Being recognized as one of The Civic 50 is an important affirmation of Freeport's commitment to excellent social performance, which is embedded in our culture, integrated into our business decisions and activities, and based on a goal of building trust with communities," said Tracy Bame, Freeport's Director of Social Responsibility.

"We are deeply committed to giving our communities a voice and working in partnership to help ensure resources are invested in meaningful activities that develop long-term resilience and deliver shared value. We're honored to make the list, as the process helps us determine the efficacy of our efforts in comparison to others."

Impact of investment far-reaching
To maximize the value of the time and resources it dedicates to communities in North America, the company works with a third-party organization, True Impact, to quantify the number of people benefiting and assess the resulting outcomes.

An analysis of 88 programs, representing about $10 million of Freeport's community spending in North America shows about 50,000 people experienced positive social impacts. Those impacts include areas such as improved academic performance; increased access to community resources; improvements in safety, health and well-being; and financial strength through improved employment, professional skills and increased income.

Freeport invested about $211 million in community programs worldwide in 2024. Collaboration with employees, host communities, indigenous people and other stakeholders is a high priority and a key component of the company's "Sustainability Pillars" outlined in its most recent Annual Report on Sustainability.

The Civic 50 rankings are the only such assessment that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities, according to the organization's website. The Civic 50 was launched in 2012 as a partnership between Points of Light, the National Conference on Citizenship and Bloomberg LP.

Upper Gila River Valley-Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley-
Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Lowlands of the Bootheel-
Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin-Eastern Black Range Foothills-
Sierra County Lakes-Northern Dona Ana County-Southern Dona Ana
County/Mesilla Valley-Otero Mesa-Central Grant County/Silver City
Area-West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands-East Central
Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo-Southeast Tularosa Basin-Northern
Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Southern Hudspeth Highlands-