Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire scheduled to resume this week
SILVER CITY, NM; May 9, 2016 – Silver City Ranger District fire managers plan to resume the Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire on the Gila National Forest Wednesday, May 11, pending favorable conditions. It could take two days to completed the remaining 900 acres of the 2,100-acre project. The prescribed burn is located six miles north and east of Silver city within the Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge.
A helicopter will be utilized for aerial ignitions during this phase of the project. The first part was “blacklining” or igniting along the perimeter to reinforce the boundaries prior to the main ignition of the project.
For public safety, an area closure will go into effect Tuesday, May 10. The closure will remain in effect during operations and for at least a few days after ignitions are completed. A notice will be sent out when the closure is lifted. The closure order and map are posted on the Gila National Forest website, http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices/?aid=33176.
Smoke will be oticable during days of ignitions and may impact the surrounding areas. All necessary steps are being taken in order to minimize smoke impacts to the public, firefighters, and surrounding communities. These steps include monitoring air quality and maintaining contact with the New Mexico Air Quality Board.
Fire managers follow a burn plan that outlines the “prescription” or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation, and humidity that need to be met before the project begins. The objectives of thie project include reducing hazardous fuel accumulation, improving wildlife habitat and reintroducing fire into the ecosystem. The Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire is funded in part by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish.
For more information, please contact Jesse Searles at 575-388-8412 or Punky Moore at 575-388-8211.
