Black Fire Evacuation Status Changed by Grant County Sheriff

Sierra County Sheriff's office

2501 South Broadway
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901

Glenn C. Hamilton
Sheriff

Dave Elston

Under-Sheriff

Phone: (575) 894-9150 Fax: (575) 894-7938

BLACK FIRE EVACUATION STATUS CHANGES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sierra County, NM - June 20, 2022: The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in close coordination with the Southwest Incident Management Team 4 is making changes to evacuation status for the Black Fire area within Sierra County.

A decision to make immediate changes to the current evacuation status was considered after an in-depth review of several factors to include fire behavior and the impact that recent rainfall has had on fuel types. Due to these improvements in fire conditions, the immediate threat to communities surrounding the Black Fire has been reduced significantly. Based on a recommendation from the Incident Management Team, all evacuations and evacuation preparedness levels have been lifted for communities in Sierra County around the Black Fire area, effective 1:00 PM on Monday, June 20th.

While the immediate threat from the fire has been decreased, residents are encouraged to continue to monitor weather forecasts and post-fire flooding potential at https://www.weather.gov/epz/ and monitor County Emergency Management websites for additional information. Current weather forecasts indicate a high probability of severe monsoon storms and residents should take precautions as increased runoff from the burn scar may pose additional threats for flooding.".

Evacuation status downgrades are for the following areas:

COMMUNITIES IN SIERRA, CATRON, AND GRANT COUNTIES AROUND THE BLACK FIRE AREA.

The real-time, interactive evacuation map (Black Fire Evacuation Map Link) has been revised to reflect this change; this link will be kept up to date through June 26th.

For information about “Ready, Set, Go” visit: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/fire-prevention-programs/.

The Gila National Forest closure remains in effect on National Forest lands around the Black Fire area, additional information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices/?aid=73435