Front Page News

Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team

TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

Morning Update for June 20, 2025

Public Meeting tonight at 6 pm at the Grant County Convention Center

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

Acres: 44,570                              Start Date: June 12, 2025

Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM                            Cause: Under investigation

Personnel: 1,306                        Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber                   Containment: 11%

  Buck Fire Update
Friday June 20, 2025

Reported date: June 11, 2025                    Containment: 71%                         Cause: Lightning
Size: 57,753                                       Personnel: 290                                  Fuels: Grass, timber
Strategy: Full Suppression                                 Fire behavior: Isolated Torching, Uphill Runs, Backing

Operations: Yesterday, firefighters made solid progress along all edges of the fire, successfully halting its forward movement. Hotshot crews continue to focus on the northern perimeter, where the most heat remains, working to secure the edge and advance containment efforts. Resources remain assigned to the handline between Batton Tank and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) on the western flank, conducting patrol and mop-up operations. On the southern end, heat is minimal, but engines continue to mop up interior hotspots and patrol along Forest Road 163 to ensure no flare-ups occur. With containment objectives progressing, some firefighting resources have been released and reassigned to support nearby incidents.

Southwest Area Incident Management Team

TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Relative humidity rises, aiding firefighting efforts throughout the night

Morning Update for June 19, 2025

MAP and other reports including a notice of a public meeting on Friday, June 20, 2025 at bottom of article.

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Acres: 43,547                                Start Date: June 12, 2025

Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM                   Cause: Under investigation

Personnel: 1,056                      Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber                   Containment: 0%

Overnight Highlights: Along the northern and eastern sides of the Trout Fire, firefighters continued to secure the line and address any hot spots. Near the southeastern corner of the fire, ground crews worked with unmanned aircraft systems, UAS or drones, which utilize infrared systems to identify hot spots. On the south side of the fire, firefighters worked with the Chino mine to build fire lines and identify opportunities to complete the line from east to west. Along the west side of the fire, crews continued to secure that line.

  Buck Fire Update

Thursday June 19, 2025 

Reported date: June 11, 2025                      Containment: 39%

Cause: Lightning                          Size: 57,753

 Personnel: 336                     Fuels: Grass, timber                        Strategy: Full Suppression

Fire behavior: Torching, flanking, backing

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with New Mexico State Police and fire personnel, is actively investigating reports of potential structure damage caused by the Trout Fire. At this time, no structures have been positively confirmed as damaged or destroyed.

Due to heavy smoke conditions in the affected areas, ground personnel have been unable to complete a full assessment. Crews are working diligently to access impacted locations and identify any properties that may have sustained damage.

If a damaged or affected structure is identified, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office will directly contact the property owner as soon as possible.

By Lynn Janes

On May 22, 2025, the commission had a regular meeting at the city annex building.

New business

Raymond De La Vega, Stantec, had an update on the project. One of the main things they have been working on has been to determine and contact property owners on highway 152. What they will need for the owners will be right-of-way. The right-of-way seems to be a bit of a mess depending on what records are looked at. Currently two entities have been trying to decide ownership between the Forest Service and New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT). If the decision comes to Forest Service, it will make it federal land and then would require NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and not just for that area but the whole project of 22 miles. In working with the two entities De la Vega said it seems more likely to be DOT. If NEPA has to be observed on the whole project, it will take a lot more money and time.

 Photos Courtesy of Richard Portillo

Southwest Area Incident Management Team

TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – INCIDENT COMMANDER

Increase in acreage due to Red Flag conditions

Morning Update for June 18, 2025

Report in Spanish, plus smoke outlooks and maps at bottom of this update

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Acres: 38,682                                   Start Date: June 12, 2025

Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM                             Cause: Under Investigation

Personnel: 875                 Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber                   Containment: 0%