Black Fire (2022)

Black Fire
The Black Fire viewed at sunset from NM 51W on 16 May 2022
Date(s)May 13, 2022 (2022-05-13) – July 27, 2022 (2022-07-27)
LocationNew Mexico
Coordinates33°14′42″N 107°55′37″W / 33.245°N 107.927°W / 33.245; -107.927
Statistics
Burned area325,133 acres (131,577 ha)
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuriesUnknown
Structures destroyed2 destroyed, 51 threatened
Ignition
CauseHuman, under investigation
Map
Map
Perimeter of Black Fire
Black Fire (2022) is located in New Mexico
Black Fire (2022)
Location in New Mexico
Black Fire (2022) is located in the United States
Black Fire (2022)
Black Fire (2022) (the United States)

The Black Fire was a massive wildfire that burned in the northern Black Range in Sierra County, Catron County, and Grant County, Northeast of Silver City, in the state of New Mexico in the United States as part of the 2022 New Mexico wildfire season.[1]

On June 9[2] the fire surpassed the Whitewater–Baldy complex Fire to become the second largest fire in modern New Mexico history, behind the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire.[3] Previously, on May 27, it had become the third largest fire in state history.[4]

As of 25 June 2022, the Black Fire has burned 325,133 acres (131,577 ha) and is 70% contained. The fire has destroyed 2 structures and threatens an additional 51 structures nearby. The footprint of the fire spans approximately 33 miles north to south, and 30 miles east to west.

Events

The Black fire started on May 13, due to human cause.

The origin of the fire was centered on "Me-Own Air Strip" off of Forest Road 150 near Middle Mesa, in a rural area of Gila National Forest.

In the span of one week the fire grew to 100,000 acres. As of May 21st there are 615 personnel working on the fire. The fire is being managed by a type 2 team, the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5, led by Mike Spilde.

The region has been experiencing sustained critical fire weather conditions, including red flag warnings, which are contributing to explosive fire growth.

Between May 15th and May 17th, the fire grew over 27,000 acres per a day, fueled by red flag conditions. On May 18, the Black Fire became the fourth largest wildfire in recorded New Mexico state history.

As of 21 May 2022, the blaze is over 120,000 acres and 4% contained.

As of 31 May 2022, the blaze is over 246,648 acres and 28% contained.

As of 9 June 2022, the blaze is over 298,440 acres and 44% contained.

As of 25 June 2022, the blaze is over 325,133 acres and 70% contained.

Impacts

Much of the burn area encompasses the Aldo Leopold Wilderness.

The fire has burned over 41 miles of the Continental Divide Trail, as well as 7.5 miles of the scenic spur trail to Reeds Peak. The CDT has been rerouted to avoid the fire.[5][6] The CDT has also been rerouted in the past due to previous fires in the area.[7][8]

Injuries, deaths, and destruction

No fatalities have been reported as a result of the Black Fire.

Closures and evacuations

Gila National Forest was under level 2 fire restrictions and New Mexico Highways 59 and 152 were closed.

Environmental

Smoke from the Black Fire, in addition to the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burning in northern New Mexico, has contributed to poor air quality throughout the region.[9]

Cultural

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the historic mining town of Winston, New Mexico, are in the vicinity of the fire. Protective measures have been deployed by the Forest Service in order to prevent damage to historical cabins.[10]

Progression and containment status

Acreage and containment figures for the Black Fire:

Fire containment status
Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned
acres (km2)		 Containment
May 13 200 (1)
0%
May 14 500 (2)
0%
May 15 1,174 (5)[11]
0%
May 16 18,762 (76)[12]
0%
May 17 56,132 (227)[13]
0%
May 18 77,529 (314)[14]
0%
May 19 93,014 (376)[15]
0%
May 20 104,969 (425)[16]
0%
May 21 120,785 (489)[17]
4%
May 22 130,224 (527)[18]
6%
May 23 146,479 (593)[19]
8%
May 24 154,911 (627)[20]
11%
May 25 167,378 (677)[21]
14%
May 26 179,539 (727)[22]
13%
May 27 191,459 (775)[23]
13%
May 28 212,118 (858)[24]
18%
May 29 228,311 (924)[25]
19%
May 30 241,403 (977)[26]
26%
May 31 246,648 (998)[27]
28%
June 1 254,840 (1,031)[28]
25%
June 2 262,695 (1,063)[29]
26%
June 3 264,657 (1,071)[30]
29%
June 4 268,218 (1,085)[31]
29%
June 5 278,188 (1,126)[32]
27%
June 6 287,273 (1,163)[33]
49%
June 7 292,770 (1,185)[34]
49%
June 8 296,895 (1,201)[35]
45%
June 9 298,440 (1,208)[36]
44%
June 10 300,336 (1,215)[37]
47%
June 11 304,550 (1,232)[38]
42%
June 12 304,550 (1,232)[39]
42%
June 13 311,692 (1,261)[40]
47%
June 14 312,519 (1,265)[41]
47%
June 15 317,676 (1,286)[42]
48%
June 16 320,971 (1,299)[43]
48%
June 17 324,132 (1,312)[44]
50%
June 18 324,909 (1,315)[45]
58%
June 19 325,042 (1,315)[46]
64%
June 20 325,111 (1,316)[47]
68%
June 21 325,115 (1,316)[48]
68%
June 22 325,128 (1,316)[49]
68%

See also

References

  1. ^ Cruz, Isaac (16 May 2022). "Black Fire burning north of Mimbres in Gila National Forest; 120,785 acres burned". KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. ^ meteorologists, Pedram Javaheri and Allison Chinchar, CNN (9 June 2022). "Black Fire becomes New Mexico's 2nd largest fire in the state's history". CNN. Retrieved 10 June 2022. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ KOB, Jonathan Fjeld (9 June 2022). "Black Fire becomes second largest wildfire in New Mexico history". KOB.com.
  4. ^ "Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present and Future | Black Fire Grows to NM's Third Largest | Season 5 | Episode 51". PBS. Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  5. ^ Miller, Elizabeth (23 May 2022). "Fires Have Closed the CDT in New Mexico—and the Reopening Could Be More Than a Month Away". Backpacker. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Black Mountain Fire CDT Re-route" (PDF). Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  7. ^ Davis, Theresa (5 November 2020). "A needed detour: NM volunteers reroute portion of Continental Divide Trail - Albuquerque Journal". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  8. ^ Affairs, Gila National Forest Public (24 May 2018). "Gila National Forest – CDT Alternate Route, Buzzard Fire, Reserve Ranger District". NM Fire Info.
  9. ^ Goldberg, Julia (2022-05-01). "Wildfire's Rapid Spread Worries New Mexico Officials". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  10. ^ Wadas, Natalie (9 June 2022). "Firefighters 'wrap' historic, vulnerable buildings in path of Black Fire". KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Black Fire Update for May 15, 2022". NM Fire Info. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Black Fire Update 5-16-22". NM Fire Info. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Black Fire Update for May 17, 2022". NM Fire Info. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 18, 2022". NM Fire Info. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 19, 2022". NM Fire Info. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 20, 2022". NM Fire Info. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 21, 2022". NM Fire Info. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 22, 2022". NM Fire Info. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Black Fire Update – May 23, 2022". NM Fire Info. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Black Fire Update – May 24, 2022". NM Fire Info. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Black Fire Update – May 25, 2022". NM Fire Info. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  22. ^ Officer, Public Information (26 May 2022). "Black Fire Daily Update: 5/26/22". NM Fire Info. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  23. ^ Officer, Public Information (27 May 2022). "Black Fire Daily Update: 5/27/22". NM Fire Info. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 28, 2022". NM Fire Info. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Black Fire Update – May 29, 2022". NM Fire Info. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 30, 2022". NM Fire Info. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – May 31, 2022". NM Fire Info. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 1, 2022". NM Fire Info. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 2, 2022". NM Fire Info. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 3, 2022". NM Fire Info. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 4, 2022". NM Fire Info. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 5, 2022". NM Fire Info. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 6, 2022". NM Fire Info. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  34. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 7, 2022". NM Fire Info. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 8, 2022". NM Fire Info. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  36. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 9, 2022". NM Fire Info. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  37. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 10, 2022". NM Fire Info. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 11, 2022". NM Fire Info. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  39. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 12, 2022". NM Fire Info. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  40. ^ "Black Fire Daily Update – June 13, 2022". NM Fire Info. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  41. ^ "Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 4 Assumes Command of Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Very dry weather conditions test the Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  43. ^ "Black Fire community meeting tonight at 6:00 pm in Hillsboro". NM Fire Info. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  44. ^ "Additional containment added to the Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  45. ^ "Rain falls over the Black Fire, New Mexico Highway 152 reopens". NM Fire Info. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  46. ^ "Containment climbs on the Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Flood Watch for flash flooding on the Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  48. ^ "Evacuation status lifted on the Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Suppression repair continues despite rains on the Black Fire". NM Fire Info. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.