The Gila National Forest is actively responding to the Blue Fire, which began on November 12 and has grown to approximately 35 acres. The fire is located south of the community of Willow Creek and north of the Whitewater Baldy Trail #172, burning within the Whitewater Baldy Complex fire scar and west of the 2025 Turkeyfeather Fire. It is situated in extremely steep, rugged, and inaccessible terrain within the Gila Wilderness. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) module is conducting aerial reconnaissance to support situational awareness and planning efforts. Firefighter safety remains the highest priority due to the presence of numerous snags and the long evacuation times required in the event of an injury.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District Six bridge replacement and roadway rehabilitation project on N.M. 32 at Whiskey Creek, near Reserve, is nearing completion. Initiated in the spring of 2024, the $7.6 million project involves replacing the existing bridge and rehabilitating the adjacent roadway to improve safety and infrastructure longevity. The NMDOT Milan Project Office recently completed the placement of the new bridge deck, with concrete work currently underway to finalize the bridge structure. The bridge phase is expected to be completed by winter, after which crews will shift their focus to the roadway rehabilitation portion of the project.
The Playas Research and Training Center recently hosted a Fire Evolution Training for local volunteer fire departments. A total of 13 volunteers participated, representing four stations: Animas Fire Station 1 in Animas, Animas Fire Station 2 in Windmill, Animas Fire Station 3 in Hachita, and Rodeo Fire Station in Rodeo. The training included a series of hands-on exercises focused on responding to residential structure fires. The goal was to help individuals gain valuable, realistic, and practical experience through the Playas Research and Training Center’s scenario-based training.
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The New Mexico Free Application for Federal Student Aid has announced No-Fee November, making the path to college more accessible to students. Throughout the month of November, students can apply to any public or participating private college or university in New Mexico completely free of charge. This statewide effort is to help remove financial barriers and encourage more students to take the next step toward their education and career goals.
