Red Canyon Fire Reaches 7,289 Acres
Release Date: Jun 23, 2015
Magdalena, NM; June 23, 2015 - For Immediate Release. The Red Canyon Fire on the Magdalena Ranger District has grown in size to 7,289 acres with approximately 85 personnel on the incident. The lightning-caused fire is located in the San Mateo Mountains, 2 miles southeast of Grassy Lookout.
Aerial ignitions (dropping incendiary device from a helicopter) continued to be yesterday on the Red Canyon Fire. Fire crews were able to direct fire on both the south and southwest side of the fire. The fire moved along the west side of Indian Springs, Forest trail 43 and along the bottom of Box Draw Canon, within the fire planning area. The fire continues to burn in ponderosa pine, mixed-conifer, grass and brush continues. As the Red Canyon Fire continues to burn, pre-determined management areas are mapped to keep the fire within those boundaries.
A local Type 3 Incident Management Short Team is managing the fire for multiple resource objectives. These objectives include improving wildlife habitat, protecting cultural resources, reducing hazardous fuels and returning fire to the ecosystem.
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are forecast over the Red Canyon Fire through the remainder of this week, into the weekend. Smoke continues to be visible from I-25 south of Socorro, New Mexico. Local communities surround Magdalena, NM continue to experience drifting smoke and haze in the afternoon and evening from wildfires on the Gila NF and wildfires in Arizona. The New Mexico Department of Health provides a visibility test to determine smoke impacts in your area on their website at: https://nmtracking.org/en/environ_exposure/fire-and-smoke/#xEPHT__fivemile__1329.
The following Forest Roads (FR) are closed until further notice: FR 96; FR 138; FR 478A; FR 478B; FR 330; FR 331; FR 378, and FR 478. The following trails are closed: Trails 28, 31, 43, and 63. All the listed Forest Roads and trails are within the working boundaries of the Red Canyon Fire perimeter.
Fire Information: Updates will be available by contacting the Magdalena Ranger District at: (575) 854-2281 as well as online at New Mexico Fire Information website at www.nmfireinfo.com, Twitter:@Cibola_NF, www.facebook.com/cibolanf, and www.inciweb.nwcg.org
Alerts & Warnings
- 03-03-06-24-03 Tempoprary Area Closure - Lake Marvin Area - Smokehouse Fire
- Area Closure for Cedro 4 Project Area on the Sandia Ranger District
- 03-03-03-24-01 Bear Trap Fire Area and Road Closures
- Occupancy & Use Prohibitions Forest Order #03-03-00-23-03
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun is prohibited