[CPEO-MEF] Fwd:Range Fire

[marianne.thaeler@sfsierra.sierraclub.org]

On Tuesday, May 9, at 10 AM, a training missile went off course and ignited a
range fire on Ft. Bliss McGregor Range, which blackened 16,000 to 19,000 acres
of of the last pristine southern New Mexico grasslands. The adjoining
National Forest lands have been Closed (next action after Extreme Fires
Danger)
due two drought conditions and forest fires. It took until Friday, May
12th, to
contain the fire with slurry bombers. Although the Army had issued a ban
on use
of incendiary devices, pyrotechnics, flares, etc., it did not ban larger
missiles or on the smaller spotting charges.

The fire occurred on McGregor Range which is jointly managed by the BLM
and the
Army TRADOC, and is site where Air Combat Command for German Air Force,
Luftwaffa, are scheduled to build a tactical target bombing  range.

McGregor Range's Otero Mesa where this fire occurred, qualifies as a National
Conservation Area with 10 historic home sites, grave sites, archeologic sites,
and is presently managed by DOI-BLM as a showcase with no resident
ranchers for
livestock grazing and recreational uses.

Marianne



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