June 6 News Release
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/6/2012
For Immediate Release - June 6, 2012 - 8:00 AM
Whitewater-Baldy Complex
News Release
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: 1050 including
Cause: Lightning
13 hotshot crews, 7 hand crews
Size: 263,589 acres (412 square miles)
Equipment: 52 engines, 29 Water Tenders, 7 Dozers
Percent Contained: 22
Aircraft: 9 Helicopters
There will be a community meeting tonight in Glenwood at the Community Center starting at 6 PM. The incident management team will be providing an update on progress and fire containment.
In the west and northwest portion of the fire, crews focused on mopping up the previous days burn out activities. In the south and southwest sections of the fire boundaries, firefighters finished prepping cabins for potential fire movement and patrolled for increased activity. In the eastern boundary, hotshot crews continued to build line by hand and strengthened with small burn out operations.
Today's fire strategies call for an extension of yesterday's tactics with continued patrol and mop-up operations. Aerial ignition will continue as needed in the eastern portions of the fire between Johnson's Cabin and White Creek.
The Burned Area Emergency Response Team (BAER) is working closely with the fire team to gain access to areas once they are safe to assess. Upon completion of the assessment, funding will be requested to implement treatments designed to reduce threats to life, property, water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems that are likely to occur when monsoonal rains hit the fire area.
In Mogollon, Catron County Sheriff's Office lifted the evacuation order to residents and business owners. Today, 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, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Additional closures are 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.
