A new fire ignition was spotted Friday evening by the Signal Peak lookout, approximately 9 miles east of Gila on the Gila National Forest.
According to a news release, driven by gusty winds the LS Mesa Fire has grown to about 125 acres, following fuels and terrain to the northeast.
“Recent hot, dry and windy conditions have made fuels more receptive to fire, which is consuming heavy grasses in a piñon and juniper woodland,” Incident Commander Ed Huerta said.
The fire started on New Mexico state land in the corset Mesa area and moved on to the Gila National Forest, the release stated. A combination of state and Forest Service firefighting resources are aggressively suppressing the fire, the cause of which is under investigation.
There are currently four fire engines, two 10-person suppression modules, a five-person initial attack mode responding, along with two Type 3 helicopters that are being used primarily as crew transport, and a Type 1 helicopter dropping buckets of water to cool flare-ups and slow the fire’s advance, according to the release. Two single-engine air tankers, two large air tankers and a very large air tanker are laying down retardant. A fixed-wing air attack platform is overseeing aerial resources. Two additional hand crews have been ordered.
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