Black Fire Afternoon Update 052822 - evacuations changing again

Evacuation levels changing again

Announcement: Effective immediately, the Black Fire is implementing additional evacuations.

In coordination with Sierra County Sheriff's Office, the evacuation status for the following area have changed: Area 3: The northern most one-mile-wide piece is now in a GO evacuation. This includes the Murden property.
The following areas are under evacuation status in coordination with Grant, Catron, and Sierra counties. Please reference the Ready, Set, Go evacuation map, or visit https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d375d3d880a649aa914f693db309b892

GO –

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Black Fire Daily Update 5/28/2022

Additional Evacuations Ordered

Progress Made on the West and Northeast Sides of the Black Fire

Acres: 212,118 acres
Location: 31 miles NW of Truth or Consequences
Containment: 18%
Personnel: 806
Start Date: Friday, May 13, 2022
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Fuels: Timber and tall grass
Structures Lost: 2

Overview: On the evacuation map, Area 11 that was in Set has now been upgraded to Go and Area 11 that was in Ready has been upgraded to Set. Firefighters are holding fire south of Poverty Creek along Highway 59 with a mixture of firing operations, hand lines, and bulldozer lines.

Fire Update:

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Gila National Forest Black Fire Emergency Closure(Revised - Effective 5/27/2022 12 p.m.)

PROHIBITIONS:

Pursuant to 16U.S.C.§551 and 36C.F.R.§261.50(a) and(b),the following acts are prohibited within the area and on the roads described in this Order, all within the Wilderness and Black Range Ranger Districts, Gila National Forest, Catron, Sierra and Grant Counties within the State of New Mexico:

1.Going into or being upon the area described below that is closed for the protection of public health and safety. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).

2.Using any motor vehicle on the road(s) described below. 36C.F.R.§261.54(a).

3.Being on a trail. 36CFR§261.55(a). 

EXEMPTIONS:

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Black Fire Daily Update 5/27/2022

Firefighters working day and night to contain the Black Fire; Critical fire weather anticipated through the weekend 

Acres: 191,459 acres
Location: 31 miles NW of Truth or Consequences
Containment: 13%
Personnel: 784
Start Date: Friday, May 13, 2022
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation
Fuels: Timber and tall grass
Structures Lost: 2

Overview: The Black Fire has over 200 miles of perimeter and is growing by approximately 15,000 acres a day. This large and complex incident is burning across rugged, challenging terrain and firefighters are working day and night to contain it.

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New fireworks ordinance for Bayard

By Lynn Janes

Before the meeting started a brief work session took place to address enacting a new fireworks ordinance. Mayor Pro Tem Raul Villanueva called the session to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Villanueva asked if anyone had any public input on the fireworks ordinance and no one spoke out. 

Kristina Ortiz, city clerk, started the discussion by explaining what the council could and could not do in accordance with state statues. Last meeting May 9, 2022, the council approved the no open fire ordinance. The state limits the scope of what can and cannot be limited or excluded. She said you can outlaw stick type ariel spinners, or missile types. The city can require that water be close and fireworks can only be used in paved or barren areas. Someone present said all needed to be banned. Fire Chief Euphemio Gonzalez said they had already had one fire due to fireworks recently. 

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Black Fire Update 052622

Personnel conducted firing operations along Turkey Creek Road to keep the fire south of State Highway 59  and west of State Highway 52. The rugged nature, inaccessible terrain, and the sheer size of the Black Fire makes gaining  containment a slow process. The Black Fire encompasses more than 200 miles of containment lines, a distance that is  farther than that of Truth or Consequences to Santa Fe. 

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Additional evacuations issued on the Black Fire Afternoon Update 5/25/2022 8:00 pm

Announcement: Effective immediately, the Black Fire is implementing additional evacuations.

Evacuations: In coordination with Grant County Sheriff's Office, the evacuation status for the following areas have changed: Area 8: The area east of Forest Road 150 is now in a GO evacuation. The area west of Forest Road 150 remains in SET. Additionally, beginning at the south edge of Area 8, south three miles south and then east to Forest Road 150 has been moved to READY. This includes V Cross Ranch, Lake Roberts, and Roberts Dip. The area three miles south of the existing Area 8 on the east side of Forest Road 150 has been moved to SET. This includes Cooney, McKnight Cabin, the Continental Divide Scenic Trail, and Kelly Mesa.

In coordination with Grant, Catron, and Sierra counties, the following areas are under evacuation status: GO –

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Chamber members heard GRMC interim CEO at luncheon 050522

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce holds monthly luncheon meetings for its members, where they not only can network with other members, but also enjoy good food and hear good information.

At the May 5, 2022 luncheon, Gila Regional Medical Center Interim Chief Executive Officer Marion A. "Tony" Thompson served as featured speaker.

"I've been here since mid-March, and I have received a warm welcome from the community we serve," Thompson said. "My journey in health care came about by following family. My sister is a physical therapist. I graduated from Batesville, Arkansas, High School on the White River. It's the oldest continuously inhabited municipality in Arkansas. It lies in the foothills of the Ozarks on the alluvial plains. The industries are primarily rice and corn farming and cattle production to the west toward the Ozark Mountains. The county is now known for poultry, either growing or producing. I grew up on a dairy farm. We were in milk production. Although I enjoyed spending time on the farm, I followed my sister into a job indoors, where there was air-conditioning. I studied nuclear medicine and imaging/radiology. I went back to grad school at the University of Mississippi to take administration courses. I moved to Houston, Texas, and worked at Memorial Hermann Hospital, where I did my two-year internship. I established networks with lots of individuals. My last permanent appointment was in Kansas. My wife said we needed to retire. I said: 'You can go back home and be Nana. I'll do interim jobs with HealthTech S3.' That's what brought me to Silver City."

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