Final Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex Community Update
Incident: Whitewater Baldy Complex Wildfire
Released: 6/29/2012
Fire Facts:
Date Started: 05/16/2012
Number of Personnel: 10
Cause: Lightning
Size: 297,845 acres (465 square miles)
Percent Contained: 87
Note: Due to decreased fire activity, this is the FINAL Community Update for the Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex. Information on BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) or post fire-flood assessment is available at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2900/ or call Al Koss, Public Information Officer at (406) 407-4593.
The Whitewater-Baldy fire perimeter remains quiet, with isolated areas of smoldering and burning pockets of fuel in the interior. Acreage remains estimated at 297, 845 acres, and containment estimated at 87%. Fire managers expect some interior smoldering and burning to continue until monsoon rains arrive.
Fire personnel are repairing natural resources damaged by suppression activities, such as reseeding dozer lines and base camp areas. There is now a lookout stationed at the Mogollon Baldy Lookout Tower to help scan the fire area for any remaining hot spots or smokes.
Rain and stream monitoring equipment is being installed in the Forest adjacent to the burn area as part of an early warning system for potential flooding. Streams to be monitored include Whitewater Creek and Mineral Creek. Rain gauges will be installed in conjunction with the two stream gauges, and also at Mogollon Baldy, Bear Wallow Lookout, Sheridan Corral and Hummingbird Saddle.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: If you are planning to visit the Forest, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Fire 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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