Front Page News

Silver City, NM, June 26, 2025—In anticipation of expected increased runoff from the Trout Fire, Forest Service crews and equipment from the Gila and Lincoln National Forests are cleaning out two sediment retention dams in Hill Canyon and one structure on Sapillo Creek. In addition, crews and equipment from Freeport-McMoRan are cleaning sediment from behind a retention dam in Skates Canyon within the Gila National Forest.

ROAD CLOSURES:

CLOSURE- Silver City, Pinos Altos, Lake Roberts Area

Closure, NM 15 northbound and southbound from mile marker 7, Pinos Altos to mile marker 25, 14 miles south of Gila Hot Springs. Closed due to a forest fire clean up.

Closure, NM 35 Closures removed.

Southwest Area ComplexIncident Management Team TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

Evacuations reduced as fire threat lessens

Daily Update for June 26, 2025Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 am – 8 pm)

Acres: 47,121                             Start Date: June 12, 2025                        Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Cause: Lightning          Personnel: 1,083          Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber         Containment: 41% 

Highlights: As fire activity slows on the Trout Fire, the incident management is right-sizing the response. Personnel are beginning to demobilize in preparation for the current incident management team close-out early next week. This strategic adjustment ensures that staffing levels match operational needs of the incident while maintaining the capability to respond should conditions change.

Closure lifted on National Forest System lands north and east of Highway 35

Silver City, NM, June 25, 2025—The Gila National Forest has adjusted the Trout Fire area closure. The updated closure reopens National Forest System lands north and east of New Mexico Highway 35 to public access.

New Mexico Highway 15 remains closed from just south of Ben Lilly to the Highway 15/35 intersection.

An area closure for public safety remains in effect that includes all National Forest System lands south and west of New Mexico Highway 35 and east of New Mexico Highway 15 to the southern forest boundary, as well as lands west of New Mexico Highway 15, located south of Spring Creek Trail #247, east of Sheep Corral Trail #231, Forest Road 4083V, Tadpole Ridge Trail #232 and Sycamore Canyon Trail #234, and north of Bear Creek from below Preacher’s Point to Forest Road 506 below Ben Lilly Memorial. 

SILVER CITY, NM – The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met virtually on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Present at the meeting were Regents Steven Neville, John V. Wertheim, J. Dean Reed and Keana Huerta.

The meeting began with Chair Neville inviting Provost and Acting President Dr. Jack Crocker to give a report. Crocker ceded some of his time to Chief Information Officer Michael Acosta, who updated the regents on the efforts to recover from the cyber incident. Acosta noted that desktop computers were being rebuilt and that voicemail would be available soon.

Grant County, NM — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the lifting of the evacuation orders for Zones 1,2,3,4, 5, 6 and 7 and the re-opening of Highway 35. The Sheriff’s Office strongly urges non-residents to avoid the area entirely. The area remains at high risk for flooding, and numerous fire personnel and emergency responders are actively working in and around the affected zones.

There is still an area closure on the Gila National Forest in the vicinity of the Trout fire, and road access via Highway 15 remains fully restricted due to continued suppression repair. In addition, fire restrictions are still fully in effect throughout the region. Residents and visitors must comply with all fire safety regulations to prevent additional fire starts and support ongoing suppression efforts.

Silver City, NM, June 26, 2025—A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, led by Mike Natharius, began making burned area surveys of the Trout Fire yesterday. BAER team assessments are rapid evaluations of post-fire conditions of the burned landscape to determine the level of risk from potential flooding and debris flow to values on National Forest System lands. If unacceptable risks are found the team recommends appropriate and effective emergency stabilization measures to reduce the risks to national forest lands and values. BAER emergency stabilization efforts are focused on the protection of human life and safety, property, and critical cultural and natural resources.

Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

Crews remain engaged on the Trout Fire amid thunderstorms and flash flooding

Daily Update for June 25, 2025

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 am – 8 pm)

Acres: 47,121                           Start Date: June 12, 2025             Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Cause: Lightning                Personnel: 1,395           Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber           Containment: 41%

Highlights: Containment increased to 41 percent on the Trout Fire as monsoonal moisture entered the region yesterday. Tuesday afternoon showers and thunderstorms developed within the fire area, and by mid-morning, the storm was tracking across the Black Range and areas to the north. The storms brought localized heavy rainfall of .10 to 1.5 inches, flash flooding along Highway 35, and sporadic lightning, creating hazardous conditions on the fireline. Crews are adapting their tactics as conditions change.