Fact sheet on the Bear Fire from this afternoon:
Incident Contact: Loretta Benavidez (505) 388-8245
Incident: Bear Wildfire
Released: 2006-06-21 13:12:00
Bear Fire: Reserve District , detected on 6/19/06, located 17 miles east of Alma, NM. After being detected Monday afternoon 6/19/06, the Bear Fire grew rapidly to 7,000 acres. On Tuesday, 6/20/06, extreme fire behavior with sustained crown runs and long range spotting resulted in the fire growing to 24,300 acres. Extremely dry fuels and downdrafts from thunderstorms are hampering containment. The fire is 0% contained. The Bear Fire is burning in dense mixed conifer and ponderosa pine timber at approximately 9,000 feet elevation. On the 20th, the fire made major runs to the east. It also moved into the northern edge of the Gila Wilderness. Tuesday’s (20th) smoke plume created by the fire could again be seen more than 50 miles from the fire. Homes and structures in Willow Creek continue to be threatened. The fire could reach N-bar Ranch and the Forest Service Negrito Work Center today. Fire fighters are working hard to keep fire east of the Bear Wallow Road and away from Willow Creek. Structure protection work is taking place at the N-Bar Ranch and Negrito Work Center. There is high intensity fire in the area near recreation residents in Indian Creek. Because of fire intensity, the condition of the cabins has not been confirmed. The area and roads within and adjacent to the fire have been closed to public entry. Road closures include parts of Forest Road 28, Forest Road 142 and State Highway 159. A closure order is posted on www.fs.fed.us/r3/gila. Residents of Mogollon will be allowed to enter and leave in order to access their homes. The “California Team 5” Type I Incident Management will be managing this fire. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. No structures are confirmed to have been lost at this time. Presently there are 165 personnel, 17 engines and 3 helicopters assigned to the fire. For information on the Bear Fire call the Reserve Ranger District at 505-533-6231
Unit Information
Gila National Forest
3005 East Camino del Bosque
Silver City, NM 88061
News Releases
* Fact Sheet
Released: 2006-06-21 13:12:00 EST
Cooperators
* USDA Forest Service
* N.M. State
* Grant County Sheriff
* Volunteer Fire department
* N.M. Department of transpertation
http://inciweb.org/incident/news/article/256/341/