Acres: 172
Location: 18 miles NE of Glenwood, NM
Containment: 0
Cause: Unknown
GLENWOOD, N.M., Nov. 18 – The Blue Fire on the western edge of the Gila Wilderness is currently sitting at approximately 172 acres. Fire growth has developed primarily south and east, with some movement to the north in the Little Turkey Creek drainage.
Fire activity has been minimal with some isolated smoke and smoldering in heavy dead and downed materials. The fire received some moisture on Sunday, and more is expected this evening through Thursday.
Background: The Blue Fire is located south of the community of Willow Creek and north of the Whitewater Baldy Trail #172. It is burning within the Whitewater Baldy Complex fire scar west of the 2025 Turkeyfeather Fire in very steep, rugged, and inaccessible terrain in the Gila Wilderness.
The fire is creeping and smoldering in an area with a high density of snags, oak brush, and locust. An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) module will be providing aerial reconnaissance. Firefighter safety is of the highest concern in this area due to the high density of snags and long evacuation times in case of injury.
Smoke may be visible from Snow Lake, Negrito, Willow Creek and US Highway 180.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
