Forest Service reports light wildfire season but warns of tree mortality and ongoing moderate fire danger

Jim Maynard, a fire-prevention technician for the Clifton Ranger District, told the Greenlee County Board that the district has been "pretty lucky" this season, reporting five fires that remained small and were lightning-caused. He said that spring rains helped and that "we're still on a moderate, fire danger right now," while noting that tree mortality from beetle kill and drought remains visible across the Clifton district.

Maynard provided localized rainfall totals — for example, the Strayhorse/Ross Station site has recorded about 10.10 inches since January 1 where the area typically records about 20–25 inches — and described operational constraints: the district can remove hazard trees around campgrounds but larger-scale thinning requires NEPA review. "Some of those campgrounds, the Blackjack Campground, Coal Creek is gonna happen here real soon," he said, and described outreach around free-use wood permits and bucked firewood stacks at recreation sites. Supervisors asked about removal of standing dead trees and were told that hazard-tree work near developed sites can proceed but broader forest treatments take longer because of procedural requirements.