June 1 News Release
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/1/2012
For Immediate Release: June 1, 2012, 8:00 a.m.
Whitewater-Baldy Complex Update
Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team
Incident Commander: Tony Sciacca
Media Line: 575-533-6901
Email: whitewaterfire@gmail.com
Website: http://inciweb.org/incident/2870/
Flickr (photos and maps): http://www.flickr.com/photos/gilaforest
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SWIMT1 and www.twitter.com/gilaforestPAO
Fire Facts:
Date Started: 05/16/2012
Number of Personnel: 1,239 personnel including
Location: Approximately 15 miles E of Glenwood, NM
15 hotshot crews, 12 hand crews
Cause: Lightning
Equipment: 60 Engines, 27 Water Tenders, 7 Dozers
Size: 216,650 acres
Aircraft: 10 Helicopters
Percent Contained: 10
Injuries to Date: Six
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez visited the Incident Command Post in Reserve, New Mexico May 31st. The Governor was provided an informational briefing from the Incident Commander and members of the operational staff.
Increased humidity aided firefighter efforts yesterday. Structure protection continues in the evacuated communities of Mogollon and Willow Creek, as well as isolated ranches to reinforce fire barriers. Burnout operations will continue in areas along the fire boundary. With a chance of thunderstorms and dry lightning over the Black Hills area, resources are on hand ready to respond to any new starts that may occur.
A public meeting will be held in Glenwood at the Community Center on June1, at 6:00 PM to provide information to anyone interested.
Smoke from the fire continues to impact communities around the fire. Periods of intense smoke will be observed and continue to impact air quality. Sensitive groups (those with asthma, lung or heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant women) should consider leaving those areas of smoke induced low air quality. Low lying areas close to ongoing fire activity may experience periods with visibility of 1.5 - 2.5 miles, which is indicative of air that is unhealthy for all groups. If heavy smoke is present, then outdoor activities should be minimized where possible and caution observed when driving in reduced visibility. For additional information go to: http://inciweb.org/incident/article/2870/14038/.
Closures are in effect in several areas; please go to the Gila National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/gila for current information, or contact the Forest directly at 575-388-8201.
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