Removed difficult driving conditions on I-10 from mile marker 77 to 75. Dust has settled. 

ROAD ADVISORY
ALERT- Deming Area
Difficult Driving Conditions, I 10 eastbound and westbound lanes from mile marker 77 to 75 will have officers slow rolling traffic due to dust and low visibility.

HIGH WIND WEATHER ADVISORY:
High wind warning in Hildago County, visibility is low in areas due to blowing dust. High profile vehicles please use caution. The NMDOT will continue monitoring the roadway. This event will be updated as conditions change.

HIGH WIND WEATHER ADVISORY:
High wind warning in Luna County, visibility is low in areas due to blowing dust. High profile vehicles please use caution. The NMDOT will continue

.FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of southwest New Mexico, including the following
county, Grant.

* WHEN...Until 715 PM MDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Some low-water crossings may become impassable.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 514 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to
thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly in the advisory area. Up to 1.25 inches of rain have
fallen. - Additional rainfall of up to 0.5 inches is expected over the
area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.

 July 6, 2026

Crews Direct Attack on Fire's North Edge for Willow Creek Protection

Acres: 9,274                                                                                       

Start Date: June 21, 2026

Location: 15 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                                       

Personnel: 156

Containment: 0%

Cause: Lightning

Summary: On Sunday, crews put in direct line along the north edge of the fire, to protect cabins in the Willow Creek Subdivision. They were aided by Saturday's fire-retardant drops which reduced heat intensity and aided the crews in successfully tying the line into the Hummingbird Fire footprint. Firefighters also continued structure protection in Willow Creek, and installed water systems including sprinklers, hoses, and pumps to improve suppression capability. Cutting activities on Bearwallow Road focused on removing hazard trees. An unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flew in coordination with a helicopter to provide site-specific details and aerial wide reconnaissance.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: Because the photographer got the captions all mixed up in her notebook, the photos will not have captions.]

Hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, in partnership with Presbyterian, Molina and United Healthcare, a community health resource fair took place at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Conference Center with about 30 participating groups providing information to visitors.  

Including the hosts and partners, also taking part in the community health resource fair included The STEM program at Western New Mexico University, Gila Regional Medical Center, Silver Health Care, the New Mexico Non-Metro Area on Aging, America's Job Center, New Mexico Division of  vocational Rehabilitation, Hidalgo Medical Center,  New Mexico Support Services, the Grant County Community Health Council, the Las Cruces Recovery Center, Ambercare, Blue Door, Imagination Library, AARP,  WNMU Family Counseling Center, Cassie's Health Center,  the Health Care Authority, AmplifieTherapy, Community Partnership of Children, Athena Hope and Healing, Literacy Link-Leamos, Grand Canyon University, and others the author might have missed.

 July 5, 2026

Air Resources Support Firefighters in Suppression Efforts

Acres: 8,638                                                                                   Start Date: June 21, 2026

Location: 15 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                       Personnel: 149

Containment: 0%                                                                           Cause: Lightning

Smoke Outlook and Map below

Summary: On Saturday, Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) applied retardant to help slow the Sacaton Fire's advance toward cabins and outbuildings in the Willow Creek Subdivision. The fire remained most active on its southeast perimeter, particularly in Rain Creek and a tributary of the West Fork of the Gila River.

Today, firefighters on the ground will build on that progress by using the retardant line to engage the fire directly. Their goal is to tie the fire's edge into the 2026 Hummingbird Fire footprint and the South Fork of Willow Creek, helping to limit further spread. Crews are also continuing to prepare indirect lines that could be used if conditions require defensive firing operations.

Firefighting Force Grows Quickly

Acres: 6,782                                                                                   Start Date: June 21, 2026

Location: 15 miles east of Glenwood, NM                                       Personnel: 148

Containment: 0%                                                                           Cause: Lightning

Map below

 Summary: Yesterday, 114 additional resources arrived on the Sacaton Fire. The fire continued to grow in the headwaters of Willow Creek, flanking through heavy fuel loading and standing dead trees from the 2012 Whitewater Baldy Fire. Fire spread to the north is slowing as it enters the recent Hummingbird and Turkey Feather fire footprints.

Unfortunately, Apache Cabin, a historic Forest Service cabin located in the Gila Wilderness, was lost in the fire. The cabin's location mid-slope and intense fire behavior did not allow for safe engagement for firefighters. The preservation of life and firefighter safety remain the highest priority.