Front Page News

Silver City Ranger District completes ignitions on Jaybird and Mill Prescribed fires

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 20 October 2023 20 October 2023

SILVER CITY, NM, October 20, 2023 – The Gila National Forest, Silver City Ranger District has completed firing operations on the Jaybird and Mill prescribed fire projects north of Pinos Altos along Highway 15. Crews will continue holding the prescribed fires in place and patrolling the areas over the weekend.

“Despite temporary impacts associated with smoke and closure of a segment of US Highway 15, beneficial fire effects were observed on these 3,560 combined acres,” said Silver City District Ranger Elizabeth Toney. “On the Mill project, particularly, fire is consuming a heavy load of dead and down logs and other material that could feed a crown fire. By using low to moderate intensity fire today, we are protecting forest health, wildlife habitats, and local communities for years into the future.”

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Freeport-McMoRan Reports Third-Quarter And Nine-Month 2023 Results

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 19 October 2023 19 October 2023

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport-McMoRan Reports Third-Quarter And Nine-Month 2023 Results

Click Here for a complete listing of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. press releases.

GRMC Board of Trustees held regular meeting 092723, part 1

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 18 October 2023 18 October 2023

By Mary Alice Murphy

After the reading of the Gila Regional Medical Center Mission, Vision and Values, the Board of Trustees heard Chairman Dr. Fred Fox give his comments.

"Yesterday [Sept. 26, 2024], I gave my first report to the Grant County Board of Commissioners," Fox said. "I will do the same every quarter."

He said he thought board training should continue with studying critical access hospital cost-based reimbursement. He talked about information on three different programs with various links in their summaries for exploring the issue. "If you like I will email you this information with their links."

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Photo added: Gila National Forest prescribed fire update 101923

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 18 October 2023 18 October 2023

jaybird low fire resizedPhoto of low to moderate intensity fire on the Jaybird Prescribed Fire. Credit: USDA Forest Service by Ben Crum

Jaybird ignitions complete, Mill starts next

SILVER CITY, NM, Oct. 18, 2023 – Fire crews wrapped up ignitions on the Jaybird prescribed fire in the Signal Peak area near Meadow Creek and Jaybird Canyon Wednesday. Crews will remain on the project to patrol for changes in fire behavior and to check for smoldering vegetation near containment lines. The Jaybird prescribed fire involved 2,600 acres of hazardous fuels treatment. 

Forest resource specialists installed four air quality monitors around the forest to monitor smoke impacts from the prescribed fire operations. While smoke was visible in Silver City and outlying areas Wednesday evening, the air quality monitors showed good air quality on the https://fire.airnow.gov/ website. Smoke-sensitive individuals and those with respiratory or heart disease should take precautionary measures.

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The smoke north of Silver City is coming from two prescribed burns

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 18 October 2023 18 October 2023

Two prescribed burns - the Jaybird and Mill prescribed burns are happening now north of Silver City. Due to the north winds overnight, the smoke came down into Silver City.

Please see https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-releases/80699-prescribed-fire-program-continues-on-gila-national-forest for more information on the projects, which began on Oct. 16, 2023. 

Grant County Commission held special meeting 092623 part 5

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 17 October 2023 17 October 2023

[Editor's Note: This is part 5 and the final of a multi-article series on the Grant County Commission special meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, which lasted almost three hours. This one continues with presentations from individual Grant County Volunteer Fire Departments.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The special meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, continued with reports from individual volunteer fire department chiefs.

Fort Bayard VFD Chief Eugene Rodriguez said he would give a summary of what his department needs. "I can't say replacing the ladder truck is my top priority, but it is ay top priority because the cost of it keeps going up. It goes up by 10 to 20 percent every quarter. I got a quote to replace the exact truck we have and it's at $1.5 million. It needs to be replaced. I talked to the county manager. I have no way and not enough funds to pay that much, so I will need assistance from you guys to replace that truck. Fort Bayard has multi-story buildings. Granted no one is in them now, but if someone is in them, we have to go save them.

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Grant County Commission held Sept. 26, 2023 special meeting, part 4

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 16 October 2023 16 October 2023

[Editor's Note: This is part 4 of a multi-article series on the Grant County Commission special meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, which lasted almost three hours. This one continues with a presentation on Grant County Volunteer Fire Departments.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

At the Grant County Commission special meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, County Fire Management Officer Randy Villa introduced the Rural Fire Chiefs Association Chairman Ed Downard. Villa also pointed out that several volunteer fire chiefs were in attendance at the meeting.

"As requested for the Grant County Volunteer Fire Department budget, we collected information on every apparatus that each volunteer fire department owned and on the date when received, as well as a 5-year plan by station on vehicle replacement," Downard said. "Like Mr. Hawkins, we're about to bury you in numbers. The report gives justification for why we look at dates the way we do. Our changes and upgrades must address safety and maximize fire fighter capabilities with the latest safety features and operating capabilities, according to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1901, Annex D standards.

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Rosary Rally held in Hurley 101423

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 15 October 2023 15 October 2023

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Also in Hurley on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at the Community Park, a Rosary Rally took place to pray for America. 

img 8611A sign invited people to join in prayer

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