Incident Start Date: June 29, 2019 Cause: Lightning
Acres: ~800 Containment: 0%
Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, heavy dead/down on the ground
Strategy: Monitor via lookouts and aerial reconnaissance
Incident Commander: T. James, ICT3

Summary:

The lightning-caused South Fire is approximately 800 acres, burning on National Forest System lands in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Gila National Forest. This fire is approximately 30 miles north of Mimbres. Values include various threatened and endangered species, and one private in-holding, and Forest Service infrastructure.

Fire is exhibiting low to moderate effects, cleaning up dead and down trees, and debris from previous fires, and reducing ladder and surface fuels. There are only a few incidents of single tree torching and very few spot fires. This fire will continue to reduce hazardous fuels accumulation to prevent future catastrophic events.

Smoke from fire rises during the daytime, but in the evening can pool down in canyons, drainages, and basins. For information on air quality and protecting your health, and to find guidance on distances and visibility, please visit https://nmtracking.org/fire. Fire information can be found at nmfireinfo.com and on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6414/.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila