Latest news with #GilaNationalForest
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
USDA says repealing ‘roadless' protections will prevent wildfires. A new study disagrees
The Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire in Gila National Forest pictured at night in May 2012. A new study awaiting peer review from the Wilderness Society undercuts the United States Agriculture Department Secretary's claim that repealing the "Roadless Rule" will prevent wildfires. (Photo courtesy Gila National Forest) One big reason the United States Agriculture Department Secretary says she wants to strip protections for 58 million acres of federal forestland is to prevent wildfires, but a new study suggests allowing roads and logging into currently protected areas will do the opposite. A study from national environmentalist group The Wilderness Society concluded that more roads results in more wildfires, and said 'roadless' areas that comprise roughly 30% of the nation's federal forestland see far fewer wildfire starts. 'Building roads into roadless areas is likely to result in more fires. These fires will, on average, be smaller than fires farther from roads, but there will be more of them, and some of them will grow to become large fires,' lead author Greg Aplet concluded in a two-page summary of the study findings. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled her agency's plans earlier this week during the Western Governors' Association annual meeting in Santa Fe to repeal the 'Roadless Rule,' protections implemented in 2011 aimed at preserving wild forests. She said the rule hampers forest management and wildfire prevention and also said repealing the ban would get more 'logs on trucks' as the Trump administration seeks to rekindle a nationwide logging industry in federal forests. USDA Secretary in Santa Fe announces agency intends to repeal Clinton-era 'roadless' rule The Wilderness Society study, completed last month, is still undergoing peer review, according to the organization. Its authors, who submitted it for publication in the Fire Ecology journal, looked at three decades of wildfire ignition data across all national forests to determine whether higher wildfire frequency was found within 50 meters of roads. The authors determined that wildfire-ignition density was more than three times lower in areas protected as 'Inventoried Roadless Areas.' Specifically, those areas saw 1.9 fires per 1,000 hectares, which is about 4 square miles. The highest wildfire-ignition density occurred in areas within 50 meters on either side of a road, the authors found, where there were 7.4 fires per 1,000 hectares. The authors did the same analysis by region, and found wildfire density along roads in the Southwest ranked the highest in the country. Roughly 13 wildfires per 1,000 hectares occurred in this region, compared with roughly 3 wildfires per 1,000 hectares in 'roadless areas.' A Source New Mexico analysis of wildfire ignitions in the Gila National Forest had similar findings. Since 2014, the earliest year ignition data from the National Interagency Wildfire Center is readily available, roughly 1,400 wildfires have ignited within Gila boundaries, according to Source's analysis. Of them, about 15% ignited within 'roadless' areas with strict prohibitions against road construction or reconstruction, which comprise 20% of the forest area. Particularly in the southern part of the Gila, wildfire starts over the last decade appear to cluster alongside roads, according to Source's map below: The biggest fire in the Gila's recorded history and also the second-biggest fire in New Mexico history, the 320,000-acre Black Fire, did not start in a 'roadless' area, according to the Source New Mexico analysis. The Trout Fire, which is currently burning in the Gila, also did not start in the 'roadless' area. On Tuesday, United States Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz issued a statement applauding Rollins' move to repeal the 'Roadless Rule.' 'This decision would unlock 30% of the National Forest System, enabling common-sense forest management practices to strengthen the health and productivity of America's forests,' he wrote. He characterized wildfires burning in 'roadless' areas as increasingly destructive, thanks to overgrown and unmanaged forests that need to be thinned and accessible. 'The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001. They are dangerously overstocked and increasingly threatened by drought, insect-born disease, and wildfire. It's time to turn the page on the Roadless Rule and return land management decisions where they belong – with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities,' he wrote. By the #s: Nearly a quarter of the Gila is protected as 'roadless.' Those protections could be nixed Even though the study found that wildfires tend to grow larger if they ignite in 'roadless areas,' doing so isn't necessarily problematic, Aplet, the study's lead author, told Source New Mexico on Thursday. By definition, 'roadless' areas don't have structures or other high value assets at risk, so often little reason exists to fully suppress wildfires that burn in wild forests, he said. Forest managers at the Gila in particular possess skill at allowing good fires to burn in the wilderness, Aplet said. 'The managers on the Gila at least, have allowed fires to burn on the Gila more than most national forests, and so those forests are less altered than areas that have been logged or other national forests that haven't been similarly managed,' Aplet said. 'And so when fires do burn on the Gila wilderness and 'roadless' areas, they have a better effect than they do on other lands.' Aplet said the study began back in President Donald Trump's first term, when Utah leaders were considering seeking a statewide exemption to 'Roadless Rule' protections, alleging that 'roadless' areas were a fire threat. 'This didn't sound right to us, so we looked into the numbers,' Aplet said. The state stopped pursuing the waiver, so Aplet's work stopped, but Trump's re-election prompted authors to take up the issue again, he said.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
100,000 acres burned by wildfires around Gila National Forest
Jun. 20—In 10 days, two wildfires around the Gila National Forest have burned over 100,000 acres, forced evacuations and spurred Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to sign an executive order declaring an emergency. The blazes, the Buck Fire and Trout Fire, have drawn over 1,596 fire personnel, including roughly 42 New Mexico National Guardsmen and Kirtland Air Force Base airmen, to the southwestern forest to aid in fire suppression. A damage assessment conducted by the Grant County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement has determined that two camping trailers and three structures have been damaged by the Trout Fire, north of Silver City, which has burned over 45,000 acres. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Roughly 2,000 people have been forced to evacuate from their homes. Power companies have been working to identify outages and restore service, said Stefan La-Sky, spokesperson for Southwest Incident Management Team 4. For the first time since the Trout Fire ignited on June 10, firefighters have been able to establish a containment line of 11%. "We're very happy about that, and it's a step in the right direction," La-Sky said. "Mother Nature gave us a little help... with southerly winds bringing in some cooler air and some moisture." Southeast of the community of Aragon, the Buck Fire has burned over 57,000 acres in Catron County and was 71% contained as of Friday, according to New Mexico Fire Information. No one has been reported injured, and no structures have been damaged. A red flag warning was issued on Friday, and fire officials are watching the wind through the weekend. As the fires raged on, residents in Ruidoso experienced a flash flood Thursday evening. "We had some low water spots where we had water over the road, but as soon as the water had time to recede, we had crews stationed to remove debris," said Kelly Gladden, public information officer for the village of Ruidoso. "It was lower level, but it was not forecasted at all, so it kind of took us by surprise."
CBS News
18-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
New Mexico wildfires force evacuations for about 2,000 homes, prompt state of emergency order
Two wildfires in New Mexico are burning over 80,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders and an emergency response from state officials. The Buck Fire is burning over 57,000 acres in Catron County and is 15% contained as of Tuesday night, according to New Mexico Fire Information. Lightning sparked the fire on June 11, authorities said. The Trout Fire started a day later and is burning nearly 25,000 acres in the south of the Gila National Forest. It has no containment, and its cause has not yet been determined. Extreme drought conditions, combined with hot and dry temperatures caused the blaze to grow on Monday, the U.S. Forest Service said in an update Tuesday. Photo posted by the New Mexico's Bureau of Land Management on Monday, June 16, 2025, shows firefighters managing the Buck Fire in Craton County. Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico Residents of about 2,000 homes have been forced to evacuate, according to Stefan La-Sky, a spokesperson for the team managing the Trout Fire. Officials said they were not aware of any injuries or burned structures. Around 875 personnel and 10 helicopters worked to slow the fire on Tuesday, La-Sky said. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in response to the Trout Fire. The governor's declaration will direct the New Mexico Department of Finance Administration to allocate $750,000 to the state's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for emergency response efforts. The New Mexico National Guard will also be deployed to assist, according to the governor's declaration. Photo posted by the New Mexico's Bureau of Land Management on Monday, June 16, 2025, shows firefighters putting out the Buck Fire in Craton County. Bureau of Land Management - New Mexico "I appreciate our federal partners for taking this threat seriously and for doing their part in supporting the responders who are working their hardest to protect the community," Grisham said. The state's Department of Health issued a smoke advisory for Grant and Catron counties. Health officials warned that the smoke will travel based on wind conditions, and air quality may be affected as far as Las Cruces — nearly 130 miles away. A red flag warning is in effect through Wednesday, as temperatures remain in the 90s with extremely low humidity, and wind gusts are expected up to 35 miles per hour. Red flag warnings are issued to indicate the highest level of fire danger.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters battle two wildfires in Gila National Forest
Hot, dry temperatures and extreme drought conditions caused two wildfires burning in the Gila National Forest to grow prompting changes to evacuation levels on June 17. The Trout grew to 24,706 acres; the Buck fires to 57,736 acres. The Buck fire, which began June 11 southeast of Aragon, is 15% contained, while the Trout Fire remains uncontained. The Trout fire, 12 miles north of Silver City, has not resulted in the loss of any structures, but evacuations have increased to GO (Level 3) in zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and SET (Level 2) in zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Additional evacuation areas will be identified as conditions change. An interactive evacuation map is available through the Southwest Area Incident Management Team website. "Crews are bracing for increased fire activity, and the public should expect the potential for additional changes to evacuation status," a report from the Southwest Area Incident Management Team read. Gusty and erratic winds and lightning will be a concern for the Buck Fire's growth. Temperatures in the 90s with extremely low humidity and wind gusts up to 35 mph will fuel the Trout Fire, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team. Red Flag Warnings are in effect June 17 from noon to 9 p.m. in the Buck Fire area and through June 18 in the Trout Fire area. Crews worked late into the evening of June 16 along the Shaw Canyon access road on the northeast corner of the fire to limit eastern spread, according to a Southwest Area Incident Management Team report. Night resources remained on the incident to monitor for hotspots and potential growth along existing containment lines. Fire personnel also continued scouting for potential control features in the north and northwest areas, while additional crews were mobilized in support of future operations, the report read. 'We'd like to thank the community for your continued support," Incident Commander Lino Baca said. "The team is working diligently to limit fire growth while minimizing impacts to grazing areas by keeping the fire footprint as small as possible. With fuels advisories in effect and limited resources available in the event of an emergency, firefighter and public safety remains our highest priority.' Firefighters are focusing on line preparation ahead of expected fire weather and working to strengthen and secure existing control lines to help limit the spread of the fire on June 17. An increase in acreage was reported due to more accurate mapping June 16, and fire managers were confidently able to add some containment to parts of the fire, the incident management team report read. Members of the public should avoid the Buck Fire area. Unmanned aircraft, such as drones, pose a risk to firefighting operations and can cause air operations to cease, according to the incident management team. The public should avoid driving on New Mexico 163 within the fire area. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) has issued a soft closure to discourage any hikers from hiking through the fire area due to public safety and accountability. Smoke may be visible from Highway 12 southeast of the community of Aragon and southwest of Highway 60. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. The Trout Fire remained active on June 16, particularly on the east and south flanks. Overnight, crews conducted firing operations to protect property and hold established firelines, according to a Southwest Area Incident Management Team report. Additional personnel and resources arrived to boost suppression efforts and support both day and nighttime shifts. Firefighters are working in round-the-clock rotations to stay ahead of changing conditions, the report read. Firefighters would conduct firing operations on the north and west sides of the fire, build direct handlines along the fire's edge, reinforce dozer lines and identify roads and natural features to serve as control lines on June 17, the incident management team report read. These tactics are used to reduce fuels and create buffers that help protect infrastructure, homes and other values at risk. Firefighting resources are seeking opportunities to prevent additional growth along the south edge of the fire. Aerial resources would assist with water and retardant drops as conditions allow on June 17, but increasing wind and ongoing Red Flag Warnings may limit aircraft use for safety. Crews are continuing to reinforce the progress made on June 16 by removing unburned fuels between control lines and the fire when it is safe to do so, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team report. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Gila National Forest wildfires continue to grow
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Trout Fire near Silver City now at 4K acres, 0% containment
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Trout Fire, burning north of Silver City in the Gila National Forest, has nearly doubled in size, fire officials reported on Saturday morning, June 14. The Trout Fire is now estimated to be 3,910 acres in size and remains 0 percent contained, fire officials reported. Management of the fire also was transferred to larger command team as of 6 a.m. Saturday. Gila National Forest closes part of its land due to Trout Fire Nearly 300 fire personnel are on scene fighting the fire, which started on Thursday, June 12. The cause remains under investigation. During the day Friday, firefighters worked on securing the fire on the west side of New Mexico Highway 15. Helicopters and aircraft delivered retardant and water to help slow the fire's advance, fire officials said. Heavy equipment reopened lines used during past fires to create firelines in all directions around the fire. 'Priorities are protecting private residences in Lake Roberts and Mimbres, agricultural infrastructure, endangered species habitats, and both recreation and cultural values,' fire officials said in their update. Hot temperatures are expected to continue through the week ahead with very low humidity and fuel moisture. As a result, fire conditions will remain elevated into much of next week. Winds will be relatively light until Monday and Tuesday when 10- to 20-mph winds are forecasted. The public is asked to avoid New Mexico highways 15 and 35 due to the large volume of firefighter traffic and limited entry and exit options for area residents. Smoke is widely visible around Grant County during peak fire activity. Smoke impacts can be expected in the Mimbres and Sapillo valleys and other low-lying areas, especially overnight and during early morning hours. For real-time smoke conditions, click here. Grant County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State Police issued an evacuation order for private lands at the western end of New Mexico Highway 35, from the Highway 15/35 intersection east to Sapillo Campground. Private lands east of Sapillo Campground remain in 'Set' mode under the Ready, Set, Go program. The Gila National Forest has issued a closure order for all developed recreation sites along Highway 35 and a swath of Highway 15, as well as adjacent National Forest System lands. A temporary flight restriction is in effect within a 7-mile radius of the fire area to allow firefighters to do their work. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in place on the Gila National Forest. For full details, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
