THE SIGNAL FIRE IN THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST NEAR SILVER CITY IS NOW 57 HUNDRED ACRES IN SIZE … UP FROM 47 HUNDRED ACRES ON TUESDAY. BUT COOLER TEMPERATURES TUESDAY HELPED FIREFIGHTERS GET THE FIRE 15 PERCENT CONTAINED AFTER NO CONTAINMENT FOR TWO DAYS.
THE FIRE FLARED UP AROUND NOON SUNDAY, BURNING ABOUT 3-THOUSAND ACRES INTO MONDAY. CREWS WERE ABLE TO GET CLOSER TO THE FIRE TUESDAY, THANKS TO AIR TANKERS AND HELICOPTERS DROPPING WATER AND RETARDANT ON THE FLAMES, WHICH ALSO REDUCED SOME OF THE HEAT.
FIRE INFORMATION OFFICER KAREN TAKAI TELLS 770 KKOB THE FIRE WAS HUMAN CAUSED. SHE SAYS THEY KNOW IT WAS STARTED ON THE WESTERN END OF THE FIRE AND THAT THE WINDS PUSHED THE FLAMES NORTHWARD. SHE SAYS THEY DON'T YET KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY IGNITED THE FIRE.
MEANWHILE, TAKAI SAYS RUPERT THE CAT, A FAMILY PET THAT GOT TRAPPED ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE WHERE HE LIVES, HAS BEEN RESCUED.
