Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Three fires continue to burn in southwest New Mexico. The Round Fire on the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Black Range Ranger District, is currently 6,577 acres. The fire was started by lightning on June 6th and is 0% contained. The fire is being managed for multiple resource objectives and is burning at low to moderate intensity. Resources are currently holding on Forest Road 500 and monitoring the fire as it backs into Diamond Creek. There are no closures in this area at this time.
The Corral Fire in the Gila Wilderness is estimated at 16,321 acres and is burning with low to moderate intensity. Thunderstorms are expected in the area of the Corral Fire through Thursday. This fire is now under a Type 3 organization. Operations for the next few days include continuing to prep FR 150 and Middle Mesa Trail to the boundary of the Gila Wilderness.
The Straw Fire on the Gila Wilderness has burned 7,000 acres and is located about 2.5 miles east of the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Fire behavior is low to moderate. The Straw Fire is being managed for multiple resource objectives. The district will monitor this fire from the Mogollon Baldy Lookout, high points on HWY 15 and the occasional aerial reconnaissance.
Local firefighters responded to two fires this past Sunday. The first was a grass fire on Coleman Drive near Little Walnut Road. Firefighters responded around noon and had the fire extinguished about 3:30pm. No structures were threatened and no one was injured. The second fire occurred around 5:30 pm on Highway 90. A single-wide mobile home was engulfed in flames and the structure was a total loss. Two firefighters were injured. Both were treated at Gila Regional Medical Center and released.
Deming’s new Superintendent Arsenio Romero participated in his first school board meeting last week. At the meeting, the board heard the budget report and approved the budget, despite concerns, due to the fact that the proposed budget did not present any fiscal problems. The budget was due to be submitted to the Public Education Department by the end of Monday, June 19th.