EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Goose Fire, burning near Silver City, New Mexico, continues to grow and remains at 0 percent containment, fire officials said Saturday morning, July 19.
The Goose Fire, about 18 miles northwest of Silver City in Grant County, has burned 1,845 acres. It started on July 9 and was caused by lightning.
The fire was at 1,681 acres on Friday and at 800 earlier in the week.
Friday, crews continued to work in the southwest and southeast area of the fire to advance containment, fire officials said. Fire officials report progress in establishing alternate and contingency lines along the Victor Road, Goose Lake Trail No. 238 and Forest Service Road 282 areas.
The north and eastern areas of the fire were unstaffed for safety reasons due to challenging
terrain and increased fire behavior experienced the previous day, fire officials said.
Two helicopters supported the incident with water bucket drops on Friday morning, but were grounded in the afternoon due to risks associated with the weather, fire officials said.
Saturday, crews will maintain progress being made in the southeast area of the fire to establish contingency lines in the event the fire spreads in that direction. Fire crews are also expected to continue to make improvements to roads, increasing access to critical points of the fire, officials.
Initial attack resources will stay ready as needed.
Incident Commander Lino Baca said: “Despite ongoing challenges with terrain, weather, and fire behavior, our strategy remains full suppression for this incident.”
Showers and storms remain in the region Saturday with a diminishing likelihood of storms later in the day. There is still chance of heavy rainfall and strong winds. Temperatures will top out in the mid-80s with relative humidity near 31%.
Members of the public are urged to avoid the area around the Goose Fire. Motorists are urged to travel cautiously as fire traffic remains active in the Mimbres Valley area, fire officials said.
Unauthorized drones can pose a serious risk to firefighters and can cause air operations to stop, fire officials said.
Here are some important links for information on the Goose Fire.
For fire area closures, click here.
For information about smoke conditions, click here.
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