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Gila National Forest warns of dry conditions, plans stage 1 restrictions and staffing for 2025 fire season
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Summary
Forest Service officials told the Grant County commission that drought and below-normal snowpack left fuels dry; the Gila National Forest plans stage 1 fire restrictions starting March 10 and expects increased fire potential in spring and early summer.
Gila National Forest staff told the Grant County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 27 that the forest is starting the 2025 fire season in unusually dry conditions and will move to stage 1 fire restrictions on March 10.
Javier, the forest’s fire and fuels planner, presented precipitation and soil-moisture data showing snow-water-equivalent and soil-moisture percentiles well below historical averages across Grant County. He said multiple monitoring sites show February totals in deficit and that much of the county is in extreme drought. Marcus Cornwall, speaking for the forest, said forecasts for March through May indicate above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation, raising the chance of an earlier, more active fire season.
Why it matters: Forest staff said lower snowpack and dry soils increase wildfire potential and will influence restrictions, staffing and resource requests. The forest intends to implement stage 1 restrictions on March 10, prohibiting campfires outside designated rings and restricting open smoking on forest lands.
Staffing and resources: Forest officials said the tanker base is expected to be operational March 15, contract aircraft are anticipated in April, and the forest plans to field a type-3 interagency zone team and to request additional engines and crews as national resources are available. Silver City and Wilderness districts reported comparatively good staffing; the forest said it will request supplemental funding and resources in mid-March for summer operations.
Local coordination: Forest leadership said they are coordinating restrictions and public messaging with nearby national forests and state agencies. Elizabeth Toney, Silver City District Ranger, said recent personnel terminations did not affect primary fire personnel but that she could not disclose specific personnel details publicly and offered to refer questions to the forest public-affairs office.
