A wildfire in remote, mountainous area in Grant County has quickly grown in size and is being fought by U,S, Forest Service personnel and equipment, assisted by local fire departments.An evacuation center has been set up in Silver City, and some residents have already left their homes in along Bear Creek Road, north of Bear Creek Cabins.The fire started in Pinos Altos, and Grant County Manager Charlene Webb told KOAT that when she first heard about the fire, it was about 2 acres in size. As of 7 p.m., the fire was estimated at 80 t0 90 acres, she said. What has now been named the Rico Fire had grown to 250 acres as of 8:30 p.m., a Forest Service news release said.An evacuation center has been set up at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, 3031 Hwy. 180 East, where Red Cross personnel are working. Small animals can be taken to the High Desert Humane Society, 3050 Cougar Way in Silver City. Large animals may be taken to the Horsemen’s Association Arena, off of US Hwy 180 and Caballero Road just East of Silver City.”Our priority is to make sure that we have an evacuation center completely manned with food and the resources that these individuals may need,” Webb said. “At this point we had six homes that had been evacuated. We had approximately four of those families at our evacuation center.”The Forest Service is in command of the fire and has deployed several air tankers, three hot shot teams, and nine fire engines, Forest Service PIO Maribeth Pecotte said.”It is estimated to be 95% on Bureau of Land Management lands. Retardant laid down by aircraft earlier was effective in slowing the fire’s progression. This will give dozer and hotshot crews a good opportunity to work on containment line construction tonight,” a Forest Service news release said.Heavy smoke is expected to settle into the valley around Silver City overnight. Residents are advised to close their windows.
A wildfire in remote, mountainous area in Grant County has quickly grown in size and is being fought by U,S, Forest Service personnel and equipment, assisted by local fire departments.
An evacuation center has been set up in Silver City, and some residents have already left their homes in along Bear Creek Road, north of Bear Creek Cabins.
The fire started in Pinos Altos, and Grant County Manager Charlene Webb told KOAT that when she first heard about the fire, it was about 2 acres in size. As of 7 p.m., the fire was estimated at 80 t0 90 acres, she said.
What has now been named the Rico Fire had grown to 250 acres as of 8:30 p.m., a Forest Service news release said.
An evacuation center has been set up at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, 3031 Hwy. 180 East, where Red Cross personnel are working. Small animals can be taken to the High Desert Humane Society, 3050 Cougar Way in Silver City. Large animals may be taken to the Horsemen’s Association Arena, off of US Hwy 180 and Caballero Road just East of Silver City.
“Our priority is to make sure that we have an evacuation center completely manned with food and the resources that these individuals may need,” Webb said. “At this point we had six homes that had been evacuated. We had approximately four of those families at our evacuation center.”
The Forest Service is in command of the fire and has deployed several air tankers, three hot shot teams, and nine fire engines, Forest Service PIO Maribeth Pecotte said.
“It is estimated to be 95% on Bureau of Land Management lands. Retardant laid down by aircraft earlier was effective in slowing the fire’s progression. This will give dozer and hotshot crews a good opportunity to work on containment line construction tonight,” a Forest Service news release said.
Heavy smoke is expected to settle into the valley around Silver City overnight. Residents are advised to close their windows.
Read More: Wildfire spreads in Grant County; evacuations underway