A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, led by Mike Natharius, is assessing fire damage from the Trout Fire. BAER teams quickly evaluate burned landscapes to determine the risk of post-fire flooding, debris flows, and other hazards on National Forest lands. As threats are found, they recommend emergency stabilization measures to protect human life, property, and critical natural and cultural resources.
The Trout Fire BAER team includes experts like hydrologists, geologists, biologists, and engineers from multiple agencies. They’re surveying the area and using scientific models to develop a “Soil Burn Severity” map—an essential tool to assess potential watershed impacts and guide mitigation efforts.
The team’s findings will be shared with local agencies to help manage flood risks and recovery efforts. For updates, visit the Trout Fire BAER page on InciWeb.
Freeport-McMoRan has worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service and local communities to support wildfire response efforts. We want to thank all that Freeport McMoRan has done and continues to do to help. Some of their contributions have included company personnel constructing fire breaks to help protect residents in the Fierro and Hanover areas, cleared space for a PNM powerline critical to the Mimbres power supply, and added additional fire breaks at the direction of the U.S. Forest Service. Freeport also donated water and Gatorade to emergency evacuation centers and rented generators to provide backup power for local water providers. Currently, Freeport’s Cobre site is being used by fire crews as a staging area for aerial water drops and is helping remove sentiment from draws.
As the Trout Fire continues to impact areas of the Gila National Forest, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) has opened its residence halls to provide shelter for displaced students, faculty, and staff, as well as for personnel from the New Mexico State Police and the New Mexico National Guard (NMNG) involved in wildfire response efforts in southwestern New Mexico. The State Police are working in coordination with local law enforcement to manage evacuations, while National Guard troops are stationed at four checkpoints and are prepared to monitor return traffic for re-entry zones. Additionally, the National Guard has deployed a swift water rescue team from its Community Emergency Response Team, which remains on standby for potential operations.
If you are in need of sandbags due to flooding concerns in the Mimbres, starting Monday and continuing throughout the week – Grant county will be handing out sandbags at the following locations… Monday and Thursday – Camp Thunderbird, Tuesday and Friday – San Lorenzo, Wednesday and Saturday- Lake Roberts. locations are subject to change – depending on the weather.
The Institute of Cosmetology is offering haircuts by donation as a fundraiser for the Trout Fire. This will be taking place, Thursday the 26th (tomorrow) from 8am- 3pm held at 117 E College Ave in downtown Silver City. If you have any questions call (575)574-8081. All walk-in only haircuts by donation will go toward Trout Fire efforts.
In other news:
During a two-hour meeting held at the Silver Schools Administration Building, the Silver Consolidated Schools Board of Education reviewed preliminary plans for a new campus for Cliff Schools. The project, being developed in collaboration with the Dekker architecture firm, aims to enhance cultural and educational spaces, with a particular focus on expanding programs in the arts and culinary fields. Plans include creating a comprehensive culinary arts environment that encompasses not only food preparation but also serving practices and table presentation. In addition, the board accepted several generous donations, including $10,000 from the Town of Silver City, $5,000 from McDonald’s, $3,150 from the New Mexico Humanities Council, and contributions from 19 additional donors.
The Silver City Jacob Bennett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has announced its America 250 community project, titled “In the Spirit of 1776.” Designed to commemorate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Beginning July 4, DAR will begin collecting 1,776 patriotic notes and messages from children, students, and adults throughout the community. These messages will be sealed in a time capsule and preserved until the nation’s 250th anniversary next year. Community members are encouraged to begin thinking about their contributions and visit the DAR booth in Gough Park on July 4 to participate.
