Overview
- The Bear Fire, which started June 9, has expanded to roughly 3,700 acres and remains 0% contained.
- Incident command moved to the Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team under Marcus Cornwell and personnel have grown to more than 200 with multiple crews, engines, dozers and aircraft assigned.
- Fire managers say lightning started the blaze and recent dry, windy weather pushed growth on the east-southeast flank, prompting use of planned indirect lines where direct line work is unsafe.
- No mandatory evacuations are in place but three private-land zones east of the fire moved to SET status, an Area Closure Order is expected, and officials urge the public to avoid all firefighting areas.
- Long-term drought, high tree mortality and steep, rugged terrain with heavy dead-and-down fuels are increasing risks to crews, forcing reliance on aircraft, a 24-hour flight restriction and a Quemado Lake dip site for water operations.