June 4 Update
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/4/2012
June 4, 2012
Whitewater-Baldy Complex
Community Update
Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team
Incident Commander: Tony Sciacca
Fire Information: 575-533-6901, 575-533-6053 (Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
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: 1191 including
Cause: Lightning
14 hotshot crews, 12 hand crews
Size: 255,024 acres
Equipment: 63 engines, 30 Water Tenders, 7 Dozers
Percent Contained: 18
Aircraft: 10 Helicopters
Firefighters conducted more aerial ignitions last night along pieces of the western boundary of the fire from Road 626 toward the south for approximately 20 miles. The ignition efforts increased activity in visible smoke and flames. Crews monitored and mopped up through the night. The ignition of the low intensity fire will minimize effects of an extreme advancing fire.
Along the northern boundary, crews went on to patrol and used a chipper to grind up fire debris. During the night shift, squads carried on mop-up efforts and patrolled the area. Along the eastern boundary of the fire, hotshot crews continued to conduct burnout operations south of the Double Spring Ranch and Prior Cabin and improved the eastern contingency line. Meanwhile firefighters on horseback searched for terrain favorable to extending the contingency line.
Due to yesterday's successes, crews will use the same tactics today. Patrol, mop-up and chipping activities will be ongoing all day. More aerial ignitions, holding and mop-up will take place in the northwest portion of the fire.
Today, firefighters are hiking in to explore the area along Gila Mountain Trail and the Middle Fork River for potential control lines. Should extreme fire behavior push to the east, the contingency line construction will continue. Firefighters will also strengthen containment lines south of the community of Mogollon.
Catron County Sheriff's Office lifted the evacuation order in Mogollon effective Today, June 4, 2012, to residents and business owners. On Wednesday, June 6, 2012, the community will be open to the public. Residents should be cautious when driving in the vicinity.
If you are planning to visit the forest, closures and restrictions still 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.
