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Gila National Forest warns Grant County of a dry fire season, expects early restrictions
Summary
Marcus Cornell, fire staff officer for the Gila National Forest, told commissioners the forest is experiencing widespread tree mortality and drought stress, outlined expected resource availability (air tanker base April 1; helicopters mid-April; crop-duster tankers May 1) and said stage 1 fire restrictions are likely in late March with stage 2 possible in April if dry conditions persist.
Marcus Cornell, fire staff officer for the Gila National Forest, briefed the Grant County Commission on wildfire conditions and preparedness, saying the landscape remains dry, tree mortality is widespread and early fire restrictions are likely.
Cornell thanked county partners for their response to last year's Trout fire and said last season saw about 195 fire starts across the forest, higher than the roughly 160-year average. He said the forest will pursue an aggressive initial-attack posture this season given drought conditions and tree mortality that have invited insect outbreaks.
Cornell provided an operational timeline: the air tanker base should be operational about April 1; the contracted small helicopter (type 3) is in place and the large type 1 helicopter should be available by mid-April; crop-duster-sized air tankers on a BLM contract are expected around May 1. He said the forest is planning to order additional engines and aircraft from the region as needed.
Cornell also warned that stage 1 fire restrictions (campfires limited to established fire rings in campgrounds) could start in late March and that stage 2 restrictions, which limit all campfires and some mechanical uses, were possible in April if dry conditions continue. He recommended residents check the Gila National Forest website and NMWildfire.gov for up-to-date restriction information.
Why it matters: Early restrictions and increased preparedness reflect persistent drought conditions and extensive tree mortality, which raise the risk of larger fires and require coordinated response and public communication.
What happens next: The forest will announce restrictions and communicate via its website and outreach teams; the county can expect coordination requests for resources during peak fire season.
