The Gila National Forest saw many wildfires last week as a result of lightning activity.
A number of smaller wildfires were successfully put out, but the 1,681-acre Goose Fire and the 24,128-acre Turkeyfeather Fire are still burning.
Using moisture to reduce the formation of Turkeyfeather Fire
A half-inch of rain fell in the vicinity of Willow Creek in the last several days, bringing precipitation to the Turkeyfeather Fire, which is located 22 miles south of Reserve. According to a Forest Service study, fire will exhibit little growth when monsoonal rainfall flows into the area.
The fire started on June 30 and is currently 23% controlled.
On July 18, the Forest Service announced that firefighters would continue to mop up remaining heat along Forest Road 28 and installed additional building protection measures to the Willow Creek community.
The service said that crews would also keep an eye on fire growth in the southern and eastern parts of the Gila Wilderness.
The fire area may have thunderstorms every day, with light to brisk winds predicted. The National Weather Service says there might be a lot of rain and unpredictable, strong winds. Storms are more likely to occur in the region between June 18 and June 20.
Goose fire is growing, and rain is predicted
The National Interagency Fire Center reports that on July 17, limited precipitation and gusty outflow winds enhanced the activity of Goose Fire, which is located 18 miles northwest of Silver City. There is no containment on the fire.
Albuquerque Zone Incident Commander Lino Baca stated, “Our strategy remains full suppression for this incident despite ongoing challenges with terrain, weather, and fire behavior.”
According to the fire center’s assessment, the fire proceeded to move east on July 17 after spreading more quickly via fuel types of ponderosa pine.
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Around 2:00 p.m., the fire spread to Johnson Canyon, and personnel were forced to leave the area because of increased fire behavior and safety concerns. According to the report, a Type 1 helicopter assisted ground resources by providing aerial water supply.
According to the fire center, on July 18, crews will concentrate on setting up backup and alternate lines in case the fire continued to spread southeast. To increase access to important fire zones, road construction projects are still underway.
The fire center predicted that on July 18, monsoonal precipitation will hit the area. It was predicted that there will be a lot of rain, lightning, and strong, unpredictable outflow winds.
According to the fire center, flash flooding could occur from heavy rain, especially close to low-water crossings and the burn scar.
