Wildfires merge; voluntary evacuations set in Mogollon

By JIM OWEN

Daily Press Staff

A pair of lightning- caused wildfires northwest of Silver City merged Wednesday afternoon, increasing the area that has been burned to more than 33 square miles ( 22,000 acres).

The Whitewater- Baldy Complex “ has come out of the Gila Wilderness and on to the Gila National Forest at Willow Creek, burning on both sides of the creek,’ according to an update the state Forestry Division posted this morning.

The fire “crossed New Mexico 159 (Bursum Road) at the Silver Creek Divide and worked its way into Mineral Creek,’ officials reported.

A voluntary evacuation of the town of Mogollon is in effect. Seven people reportedly were evacuated Tuesday from summer homes in Willow Creek, where crews set up pumps, hoses and sprinklers at about 10 houses.

The blaze “ remains at zero percent containment, as firefighters are unable to directly suppress (it) due to extreme fire behavior and rough terrain,’ the Forestry Division wrote.

At last report, 435 firefighting personnel were assigned to the incident.

Strong winds reportedly kept helicopters and airtankers grounded Wednesday, so water and fire- retardant chemicals could not be dropped on the flames.

Wind gusts topped 50 mph, causing the fire to spread quickly. High temperatures and low humidity made the situation worse. Unable to attack the flames directly, firefighters were pulled back to safe areas.

Officials noted that the fi re “has created large amounts of smoke, which was visible in many communities in southeast New Mexico, as well as eastern Arizona.’

Unlike Tuesday, when winds from the north pushed a dark smoke cloud over the Silver City area, the smoke on Wednesday drifted mostly to the east. Socorro residents reported difficult breathing conditions, while people as far away as Carlsbad saw the smoke. Ash fell as far as 40 miles away from the fire.

Due to the fi re’s extreme behavior and proximity to private land, and a forecast calling for strong winds, a Type I fire- management team has been ordered to take over the suppression effort. Such teams, the largest firefighting units in the Forest Service, typically feature more than 1,000 personnel and multiple aircraft.

Bursum Road remains closed to the public from Fanny Springs (about 13 miles east of

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Glenwood) to the junction with Forest Road 28. The closure order has been expanded to include all forest trails west of the Gila cliff dwellings. Snow Lake and the adjacent Dipping Vat Campground also have been shut down.

Authorities are advising people to avoid areas where there is smoke, and where firefighters and their equipment are present.

Though there are no restrictions on campfires or smoking in the forest, visitors are urged to use extreme caution and avoid creating any sparks or embers when there is wind.

Jim Owen may be reached at jowen@silvercitydailypress.net.