Missile to launch from Fort Wingate

  • Missile Defense Command The United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command supplied this photo from a Black Dagger missile launch at Fort Wingate back in March. The Army is launching another missile from the fort, preparations will include a temporary closure of the Mount Taylor Ranger District, hunters should plan accordingly so their hunt is not disrupted by the missile launch. Violating the closure of Mount Taylor may lead to a $5,000 fine, or jailtime. Courtesy Photo of US Army
    Missile Defense Command The United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command supplied this photo from a Black Dagger missile launch at Fort Wingate back in March. The Army is launching another missile from the fort, preparations will include a temporary closure of the Mount Taylor Ranger District, hunters should plan accordingly so their hunt is not disrupted by the missile launch. Violating the closure of Mount Taylor may lead to a $5,000 fine, or jailtime. Courtesy Photo of US Army
  • Missile to launch from Fort Wingate
    Missile to launch from Fort Wingate

Diego Lopez, Reporter

GRANTS, N.M. – Effective as of August 30, until September 2 at 4 p.m., parts of the Mount Taylor Ranger District will be closed to the public as the federal government prepares to launch a missile from Fort Wingate. This order comes as bow hunting season comes into full effect, the order can be rescinded at any time. The missile will be fired from Fort Wingate, just outside of Cibola in McKinley County, to White Sands Missile Range outside of Las Cruces, N.M.

The army will be firing a Black Dagger Short Range Ballistic Missile, these are designed for precision striking of targets that are not too far from the launch point. Specifically, these missiles are used to aide in US national security, they “threat match” incoming missiles, according to a fact sheet from the US Army.

The United States Army has asked for the this is being done, according to a press release, to protect the public and keep local firefighting resources protected in the event of a fire.

According to the US National Forest Service, the Mount Taylor closure will effect, “Township 14N., Range 16W., Sections 1-24 and 27-35; Township 13N., Range 16W., Sections 2-6; Township 14N., Range 16W., Sections 7, 8, and 18; specifically, all [National Forest Service] lands within the boundary starting at the Forest Service gate on NFS Road 547 in Six Mile Canyon, then following NFS Road 547 in a southwesterly direction for 4.6 miles to the intersection of the section lines of Sections 23, 24, 25, and 26, then following south along the section line between Sections 25 and 26, until the southwest corner of Section 2, T13N., T16W., then following the section line west to the southwest corner of Section 6, T13N., R16W. (excluding private inholdings), then following the Cibola National Forest boundary north then east, back to the point of beginning, which is the Forest Service gate on NFS Road 547 in Six Mile Canyon.”

Visitors to the area should understand that access to roads and trails in the effected area will not be permitted. Only those with a specific exemption from the Forest Service will be allowed to be on these roads. Firefighting crews, federal state and local law enforcement, and organized rescue teams are exempt from this closure order.

Any person who violates this order may be punished with a Class B misdemeanor. This means violators may face a $5,000 fine, or $10,000 for a group. Punishment may also include imprisonment for six months.

The airspace over Fort Wingate will be temporarily restricted before the missile launch. There have been more than a dozen target missions from Fort Wingate to White Sands since 1997.

Further information regarding this Order contact the Mount Taylor Ranger District at 505-287-8833.