NEW MEXICO STATE FORESTRY News:
Situation: An evacuation of Mogollon has been ordered by the Catron County Sheriff’s Office effective noon today.
Evacuees will be sheltered at the Glenwood Community Center located on Community Center Road with their small pets.
Large animals can be relocated to a temporary animal collection center at the residence of County Commissioner Hube McKeen.
Tony Sciacca’s Southwest Type 1 Fire Management Team has assumed command of the complex as of this morning.
The Incident Command Post is now set up and located at the Reserve Fair Grounds. Two phone numbers have been set up to call for fire information, (575) 533-6901and (575) 533-6053.
The complex remains at 0 percent containment as firefighters are unable to directly suppress the fire due to extreme fire behavior and rough terrain.
Fire Crews were able to directly and successfully attack a few spot fires out ahead of the fire on the north end until the crews disengaged as fire behavior increased on Friday afternoon.
Sustained and gusting winds from the south and southwest will elevate the fire behavior today and crews are expecting to face extreme conditions.
The greatest potential for fire growth will be generally to the north/northwest, with the fire being pushed by the high winds.
Crews will be working to strengthen existing fire lines along the northeast section of the fire and will scout contingency lines.
Additional helicopters have been ordered to support ground crews and provide structure protction if needed.
Fire growth to the south and to the east is exptected to moderate due to the fire entering an area of old fire burns where the fuel load is less.
Approximately 586 personnel are currently assigned to the fire.
Visit http://fs.usda.gov/gila, www.nmfireinfo.com or www.inciweb.org for information on the fire.
- Incident Name: Whitewater-Baldy Complex
- Start Date: May 16
- Start Location: Gila Wilderness on the Gila National Forest
- Area Vegetation: Mixed conifer, Ponderosa pine, etc.
- Acres Burned: 82,252
- Cause of Fire: Lightning
- Containment: 0 percent
- Ownership(s): USDA Forest Service/private
- Structures Threatened: yes
- Structures Burned: 12 homes and 13 outbuildings
- Evacuations (Y or N & #): Yes – 57 cabins in the Willow Creek area and Mogollon
