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Goose Fire Update
Thursday July 24, 2025

Reported date: July 9,2025      Containment: 30%          Cause: Lightning/Natural         Size: 3060 acres
Personnel: 196              Fuels: Timber, Brush             Strategy: Full Suppression
Fire behavior: Minimal, Smoldering, Creeping

Operations: Firefighters made great progress yesterday in achieving full suppression objectives with an increase of containment to 30%. The previous day's significant rainfall resulted in a decrease in fire behavior, and crews evaluated the fire's status to determine tactical needs for the upcoming days. Crews completed cutting handline on Snow Creek Trail #233, and they continued preparing the eastern control line and securing the edges of the fire perimeter. Water-dropping helicopter support remained active throughout the day to ensure that the fire stayed within the planned containment boundaries. Masticators continued their work north along Forest Service Road 4083V; road work at Forest Service Road 4083T was completed.
Today, crews will begin rehab work along Goose Lake Trail #238 and Sheep Corral Trail #231, and they will also initiate rehab work on the 282 and 4083V Forest Service roads. Drier conditions are expected today and tomorrow, so firefighters will continue to ensure the edges of the fire perimeter are secure. Helicopter support will again be available to assist efforts to slow the fire's spread, and a helicopter reconnaissance flight is planned for the afternoon.

Message from Incident Commander Lino Baca, Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Team: "Because the fire received substantial precipitation in recent days, we are working closely with the US Forest Service to right-size the organization responding to the Goose Fire."

Weather: The fire received 0.75 inches of rain in recent days. Today will be mostly sunny; warm and dry conditions are expected today through Friday. Temperatures today will reach the mid-80s with relative humidity values near 22% by afternoon. Rain and isolated thunderstorms are forecasted for Saturday and Sunday.

Location: 18 miles NW of Silver City, NM on the Gila National Forest. It is located east of Seep Springs, south of the Gila River and west of Sheep's Corral Canyon.

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the top priority. Members of the public should avoid the Goose Fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in effect; please visit www.tfr.faa.gov  for information specific to the Goose Fire. Unmanned aircraft such as drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that "If you fly, we can't!".

Closures: Visit http://fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/alerts/goose-fire-area-closure  for fire area closures along the 282 and 876 Forest Service roads. Visitors to the Gila Wilderness should be aware that the fire is burning near Goose Lake Trail #238, Monument Ridge Trail #254, and Packsaddle Trail #732.

ALERT: Highway 15 may be closed to all traffic for up to eight-hour increments due to the withdrawal of heavy equipment; the road closure interruptions will continue through Saturday at 10 p.m.

Smoke: Smoke may be more visible due to increased fire activity. For individuals sensitive to smoke please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

Public Information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or (575)210-8624, 8am - 8pm

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmgnf-goose-fire 

By Mary Alice Murphy

At the Grant County Commissioner meeting on July 24, 2025, County Fire Department Chief Roger Groves, during public input announced that he had lifted fire restrictions at 8 a.m.that morning.

The Order reads:
Effective, Thursday, July 24: 08:00 a.m., Pursuant to County of Grant Ordinance 14-02

The Grant County Fire Chief and the Grant County Manager have cautiously observed various areas within the unincorporated portions of the County, as well as monitored up to date local forecast from U.S. Forest Service and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Based on observations and reports, all fire restrictions within the unincorporated portions of the County of Grant will be lifted.

 Goose Fire Update 

Wednesday July 23, 2025

Reported date: July 9,2025          Containment: 22%             Cause: Lightning/Natural           Size: 3060 acres

Personnel: 195                                                Fuels: Timber, Brush                                Strategy: Full Suppression         

Fire behavior: Creeping, Smoldering

Operations: Yesterday, the fire area received over an inch of rain, prompting firefighters to disengage in the afternoon due to hazardous conditions, including lightning and thunderstorms. However, crews were able to make progress in the morning, continuing to secure Goose Lake Trail #238 and Forest Road 282. A reconnaissance flight was conducted over the western perimeter, allowing fire managers to assess conditions and increase containment to 22%. 

Freeport Reports Second-Quarter and Six-Month 2025 Results

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Reports Second-Quarter and Six-Month 2025 Results

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

SILVER CITY, NM – The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents held a special meeting virtually on Monday, July 21, 2025. Present at the meeting were Regents Steven Neville, John V. Wertheim, J. Dean Reed and Keana Huerta.

The meeting began with Chair Neville inviting Regent Wertheim to provide an overview of the Regents' wish to contract with the Santa Fe law firm of Ortiz and Zamora. Wertheim stated that the law firm would be providing counsel as the Board of Regents navigated the litigation brought by the New Mexico Department of Justice.

Wertheim explained that the university would maintain its current legal counsel, and Ortiz and Zamora would provide additional guidance to the Board of Regents for a limited duration.

Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team MARCUS CORNWELL – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Notification for Public Health and Safety

 Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Turkeyfeather Wildfire Management Returning to Gila National Forest

Acres: 24,128               Location: 22 miles south of Reserve, NM                  Containment: 25%

The Turkeyfeather wildfire received widespread, wetting rains over the weekend and into Monday. That, along with the predicted monsoonal moisture that continues in the area and minimal fire behavior, means that the Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team will turn the management of the wildfire back to the Gila National Forest at 0600 tomorrow (Wednesday, July 23, 2025). Work will continue on the Turkeyfeather wildfire, but at a smaller scale.

Goose Fire Update Tuesday July 22, 2025

Reported date: July 9,2025          Containment: 0%          Cause: Lightning/Natural                 Size: 3060 acres

 Personnel: 193                  Fuels: Timber, Brush                          Strategy: Full Suppression

Fire behavior: Backing, Creeping, Smoldering

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters continued constructing handline on the northeast corner of the fire toward the Gila River and improved nearby helispots to support helicopter operations. Hose lays were completed and charged with water in the northeast section to strengthen control lines ahead of planned operations. Masticators worked northward from the fire’s southeast corner to reinforce indirect lines, while crews mopped up and secured previously burned areas along the southern edge. Light to moderate rainfall occurred over the fire area, and additional precipitation is forecast for today.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: The article to accompany this photo essay will come later.]

Silver City's new Henry V. "La Burra" Morales Recreation Center held a ribbon cutting on July 17, 2025, while the New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, whose father the center is named after, were in town with the state cabinet members to meet with citizens to hear their questions and answer them. at a Cabinet in Your Community session, which was held later in the evening.  

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